News

We are delighted to announce that our postgraduate student in the Centre for Catalan Studies, James Thomas, has been awarded a PhD for his thesis entitled ‘The Anglophone Reception of Catalan Literature: 1780-1900’. Quite exceptionally, the thesis was passed without any corrections demanded by the examiners. Enhorabona, James!

Last week, a group of the friends of the Centre for Catalan Studies had the chance to attend a guided visit to the British Library, where several Catalan books from as early as the 15th century were displayed. They included works by Joan Brossa, Apel·les Mestres, Ausiàs March, and an original edition of Tirant lo Blanc by Joanot Martorell (1490), among many others. A really special occasion thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming Ses Honorables Virtuts Il·lògiques, an artistic duo from Eivissa (Ibiza), for their first performances in the UK—at Cardiff University and Queen Mary University of London.

Last week, an extraordinary cultural event organised by ValenciansUK and the Centre for Catalan Studies at Queen Mary (CCS) took place, bringing together Vicent Andrés Estellés’ poetry and Pau Alabajos’ music, along with the launch of Vicent Andrés Estellés: La veu d’un poble, the first biography of the Valencian poet, one of the most important figures in contemporary Catalan literature.

On the 27th February, the Centre for Catalan Studies organised an event focusing on the cultural and economic value of the Mediterranean cuisine. Economist Jaume Mora gave a talk which was followed by a tasting of products from the Catalan-speaking territories.

Dr J. Àngel Cano, lecturer in the Department of Catalan Philology at the Universitat de València, will carry out a stay at the Centre for Catalan Studies, where he will spend three months developing aspects related to the hipertextuality between Catalan and English literatures.
Benvingut, Àngel!

Applications are invited to study for a Phd in Catalan Studies at Queen Mary University of London. The Centre for Catalan Studies is the only research centre of its kind in the UK and constitutes an ideal place for doctoral study.

Yesterday we received a visit from Laura Vilardell, Associate Professor of Spanish & Translation Studies at Northern Illinois University and former Catalan Lecturer at Georgetown, where she taught Spanish and Catalan language, culture and Translation Studies. In 2012, she spent one semester doing research at the Centre for Catalan Studies, Queen Mary University of London. On this occasion, she met Professor John London to gather information for the monograph on Joan Gili she is currently writing. Molta sort amb el projecte, Laura!

Last month, the first session of the Queen Mary Catalan Book Club of 2025 took place. This time, we discussed Iolanda Batallé’s I’ll Do Anything You Want (Faré tot el que tu vulguis). We were lucky enough to be joined by the author for this event, as well as the translator of the English edition, Martha Tennent.

The Institut Ramon Llull, the institution that works for the promotion of the Catalan language and culture abroad, recently organised a new edition of the Introductory Seminar to the Audiovisual World and Subtitling (Seminari d’introducció al món audiovisual i la subtitulació), aimed at current and former Catalan language students who have an interest in this field.