A valuable companion to my trip to Barcelona. Toibin introduced me to the history, art and politics of the city; from its Roman beginnings to, most memorably, its chapters on Gaudi', Picasso, and the Spanish Civil War. The artists fed off the city's energy, who in turn, fed amazing art back into the city. The Franco regime was a long pause and many of its greatest artists fled, including Milo and Picasso. Yet Franco's death, the return of democracy, and the Olympics opened a new era of prosperity. Toibin has lived in the city on and off for years, and his knowledge, and love are apparent on each page.