Vicens Riera Eureka. Exile, memory and the working class It is the seventh book in the “Literary Heritage” collection that he edited and published Rovira and Virgili University Publications. As they put it, the collection emphasizes a broad sense of heritage as everything that surrounds and influences literary production: the writer, his environment, and the circumstances in which he had to live. Therefore, we find the concept of literature as a specific social practice that attests to situations and ways of being in the world and realistic discourses. In this sense, Riera Eurca is the best example. In this book, Albert Ventura – Professor and researcher whose research focuses on twentieth-century Catalan literature, especially the period of Catalan exile in America – and covers the author’s life and work from three interconnected perspectives. Three ways of working, approaching and understanding Riera Lorca's literary production following the idea of additive heritage.
The first of these attempts is to present a short biography of the author, from his youth until his permanent return to Pineda de Mar, through his journalistic cooperation and political and cultural commitment during the Second Spanish Republic and subsequent exile. It is worth noting that Vicence Riera Jurca was one of the many writers, artists and intellectuals who had to flee the country due to the political persecution and violence of the Franco regime. First, in France – where he left when World War II broke out; Then in the Dominican Republic; Finally, Mexico, where he settled until his return. During this stay, Riera Jurca was able to continue her literary activity as usual, establishing links with other exiles – and founding and running the magazine Pont Blau (1952-1963) – and with the Mexican intellectual community. This period of exile had a significant impact on his life and his works, which reflect his experiences, feelings and thoughts.
The second perspective through which the character of Vicençe Riera Jurca is explored is the literary study of the work – focusing on the narrative group, but without neglecting the essay and the press. So, first, we find a perception that broadly characterizes narrative work, and at the same time raises the problem of its aesthetic ascription to neo-realism or historical realism. In addition, it is discussed how events and characters develop within the narrative body and how the tension between reality and fiction – if not indestructible – serves the purpose of showing the former while concealing it. This is from dialogue, with an extensive bibliography that oscillates between close studies and comments by Riera Jurca himself. An ensemble that presents the literary corpus of Riera Jurca as a living element, integrated into our cultural tradition, and still subject to discussions about current literature.
Thirdly and finally, from a more personal and intimate point of view, there are three correspondences with Thomas Tippie, Xavier Benguerel I Luis Ferran de Paul. A choice conditioned by various factors, but it offers a broad perspective on life in exile, and the concerns surrounding the Catalan and regional cultural world. Feat of strength In order to express it despite dictatorship and dispersion. As a continuation of this third blog, and for those who want to go deeper, I mention the correspondence that Vicence Riera Yurca had with John Carpenter Which is published by 3i4 Editions in volumes 15 and 16.
Briefly, Vicens Riera Eureka. Exile, memory and the working class It is an essential book in terms of the knowledge that Catalan literature itself possesses. Albert Ventura combines academic rigor with clear and pedagogical interpretation, and thus claims a moral obligation to affirm the exiled literary tradition. It is a commitment that in practice – and I say this, not the book – will include reprints. It is a claim that could be extended to many others, unfortunately.
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