Mercè Rodoreda Book Club Series: Session 2 — With Peter Bush

This year, Backstory is launching a five-month Book Club series dedicated to Mercè Rodoreda, one of the most renowned Catalan writers of the 20th century. The series runs from January to May, in parallel with the CCCB exhibition Rodoreda, a forest, and is designed to introduce English-speaking readers to Rodoreda’s work through its translations.

Across five monthly sessions, we will read five key works by Rodoreda, guided by translators and scholars who have played a central role in bringing her writing into English. Each session combines close reading, contextual discussion, and open conversation, always in an accessible, non-academic format.

The series will conclude with a guided group visit to the CCCB exhibition, thanks to their support.

### 📅 Session 2 — February

### 📖 In Diamond Square

Original title: La plaça del Diamant
Translator: Peter Bush
Publisher: Virago Press
Original publication: 1962

In Diamond Square is Mercè Rodoreda’s most widely read and internationally recognised novel. Set in Barcelona before, during, and after the Spanish Civil War, the novel follows the life of Natàlia (Colometa), offering an intimate portrayal of womanhood, war, survival, and identity. Through its restrained yet powerful prose, the novel has become a cornerstone of modern Catalan literature.

### 👤 Guest: Peter Bush

Peter Bush is an award-winning literary translator based in Barcelona and one of the most prominent translators of Catalan literature into English. His translations include works by Josep Pla, Joan Sales, Emili Teixidor, Quim Monzó, Teresa Solana, and Prudenci Bertrana, among many others.

His translation of In Diamond Square has played a key role in introducing Rodoreda’s most important novel to English-speaking readers worldwide. Peter’s long-standing engagement with Catalan literature and his deep knowledge of its literary landscape make him an ideal guide for this session.