The Poetry of Salvador Espriu - To Save the Words

Two standpoints govern the approach taken to the poetry of Salvador Espriu (1913-85) in this first extended study of his work in English. First, the author explores the structural implications of symmetry and numerology, in a chronological rather than thematic survey of the poetry - a procedure that involves a consideration of how each book (what could be termed in most cases a macro-poem) attains its distinctive character, while having common preoccupations and stylistic traits. Secondly, he examines the tension implicit in Esprius poetry between involvement and detachment or between the civic and the lyric. One issue addressed is why Espriu is perceived both as the symbol of moral resistance against Francoism and as a hermetic, difficult poet. Central to the study is an awareness of the precarious status of the Catalan language in the period when Espriu wrote most of his poetry, and of how his work represents, by dint of its linguistic character, an act of defiance and affirmation, in Delors view, a metalinguistic literature. D. Gareth Walters is Professor of Spanish at the University of Aberystwyth.

Product details

• Authors: D. Gareth Walters
• Publisher: Tamesis Books
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 01.01.2006
• No. of pages: 224
• Dimensions: 163 mm x 238 mm x 20 mm
• Weight: 484 g
• Series: Coleccion Tamesis Serie A: Mon
• Subject: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative literary studies