18th Century Literature: Neoclassicism and Memoirs in Catalonia
Authors and Works of the Eighteenth Century in Catalonia
Neoclassicism
Ramis Ramis and John
Joan Ramis i Ramis (1746-1819), born in Maó, Menorca, was a prominent playwright, poet, and scholar. He studied in Mallorca and Perpignan, France, before working as a lawyer for the British government during their rule of Menorca. A champion of Catalan culture, he co-founded the Societat Maonesa de Cultura in 1781, which fostered intellectual and literary pursuits. Ramis is considered a key figure in Catalan Neoclassicism, influenced by his studies in France and his engagement with Enlightenment ideals.
Works:
- Lucretia (1769): A tragedy written in Alexandrine verse, set in Roman Barcino (Barcelona). The text is extant, though the play was likely only performed in Maó.
- Arminda (1775): While the text is known to have existed, it is not currently preserved.
When Menorca transitioned from British to Spanish rule in 1782-1783, the island’s cultural landscape shifted. The mercantile bourgeoisie, enriched by English trade, was replaced by the rural aristocracy, and Neoclassicism supplanted the prevailing Baroque style. Ramis adapted to this change, writing the tragicomedy Rosaura, or Constant Love (1783) in heptasyllabic verse and the poem La Alfonsíada Española, marking a shift away from the Catalan language.
Prose (Memoirs)
Baron Maldà (Rafael d’Amat i de Cortada)
Rafael d’Amat i de Cortada, Baron of Maldà (1746-1819), was born and died in Barcelona. From a noble family, he lived a relatively modest life as a rentier. Between 1769 and 1819, he meticulously documented the daily happenings of Barcelona in his extensive work, Calaix de Sastre (Tailor’s Drawer). This 71-volume manuscript, along with additional copies, provides a unique and detailed chronicle of Barcelona life over 50 years.
Themes:
- Historical events: Including the War of the French Succession and the resistance to French rule.
- Daily life: Depicting festivals, social customs, and the routines of Barcelona’s inhabitants.
- Personal experiences: Describing his travels, hobbies (music and reading), and participation in the “good life” gatherings with friends.
Only a selection of Calaix de Sastre has been published, focusing on themes like festivals, the “good life,” and the Jesuit college. Maldà also contributed to the Barcelona newspaper La Gazeta de Barcelona, sometimes supplementing or offering alternative perspectives to the news of the day.
Other Catalan Memoirs:
- Francesc Eiximenis attempted a similar chronicle of 14th-century life.
- Josep Pla’s extensive work documented 20th-century Catalan customs, cuisine, art, politics, and more.