Victus, the fall of Barcelona and European history
Book presentation in cooperation with uitgeverij Signatuur and the Public Diplomacy Council of Catalonia
The War of the Spanish Succession, theme of Albert Sánchez Piñols historical novel Victus, was one of the first of the world struggles. Amongst major European power shifts, Catalonia lost its independence. As there is a change for a Catalan referendum on independence on Sunday 9 November 2014, Piñol and two other experts consider the widespread European consequences of these historical events.
The War of the Spanish Succession was not only a fight for the Spanish throne, but also a war fought in order to establish a balance of power within Europe. And it is Martí Zuviría’s story, the main character in Victus, Barcelona 1714 (Nederlandse vertaling: Victus, de val van Barcelona).
As a prestigious military engineer in the early 1700s, Martí fought on both sides of the long War of the Spanish Succession between two dynasties who claimed the Spanish throne: the French Bourbons and the Austrian Habsburgs. In the face of the threat posed by the potential union of France and Spain, England, Holland and the Holy Roman Empire formed an alliance known as the Grand Alliance of The Hague, and declared war on the Bourbons in 1702. Catalans supported the Habsburgs, as they offered to guarantee their rights and freedoms.
Although the Treaty of Utrecht set a ceasefire among both sides, the Catalans kept fighting to protect their rights and freedoms. That fight ended on 11 September 1714 with the apocalyptic assault on Barcelona; the Catalans lost their independence. The consequences of the war and the peace treaties 300 years ago can still be seen today.
Three distinguished guests, including the author of Victus, will gather together in a round table to give a thorough analysis of this historical background and the effect it had and still has in today's Europe. We will have an introduction by prof. dr J.Th. Leerssen, professor of European Studies at the University of Amsterdam, followed by an interview with both Albert Sánchez Piñol, the author, and Quim Torra, writer and historian.
About the speakers
Albert Sánchez Piñol
Albert Sánchez Piñol (born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain) is a Catalan anthropologist, non-fiction writer and novelist writing in the Catalan language.
Mr Quim Torra
Mr Quim Torra is a lawyer, writer and publisher. He is the founder of Acontravent publishing, dedicated to literary journalism and non-fiction. He is also a member of the Council of the Catalan National Assembly and Vice-President of Òmnium Cultural. In 2012, he was appointed Director of El Born Cultural Center: part archaeological site, part museum and the place where Barcelona suffered the siege of 1714.
Joep Leerssen
Joep Leerssen is a Dutch comparatist and cultural historian. He is professor of European studies at the University of Amsterdam, where he also holds a Royal Netherlands Academy Research Professorship. He was awarded the Spinozapremie in 2008.
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