Barcelona has honoured the late writer, editor, and critic Josep M. Castellet with a commemorative plaque at his former residence on Carrer de Bailèn, 136. The unveiling, which took place on 29 April 2026, recognises Castellet's pivotal role in Catalan and Spanish culture during the second half of the 20th century.
Castellet lived at the Bailèn address for 30 years until his death in 2014. The ceremony was attended by numerous family members, including his niece Marta Castellet and cousin Dolça, alongside Teresa Muñoz, commissioner for the Josep M. Castellet Year, and Xavier Marcé, Barcelona's Councillor for Culture and Creative Industries. This plaque is part of the Josep Maria Castellet Year programme, which celebrates the centenary of his birth with various cultural events across the city.
Councillor Marcé stated that this act allows Barcelona to "remember with affection and a sense of justice" an essential figure. He added that Castellet "helped us open windows when the air was still thick, and he did so with a very Barcelonan mix of rigour and ambition." Marcé thanked Castellet for helping Barcelona become "a slightly more critical and a slightly more open city."
Castellet's Enduring Influence
Marta Castellet, his niece, expressed hope that the plaque might pique the interest of those unfamiliar with his work. She believes it could lead them to discover the intellectual, editor, writer, literary critic, essayist, and cultural activist who acted as a bridge between cultures. Castellet was a teacher who greatly helped spread Catalan literature and introduced universal literature, including essays, criticism, novels, poetry, and theatre from other languages, into Catalan.
Teresa Muñoz, Castellet's biographer, noted that despite his "eternal sceptic" demeanour, Castellet's life was dedicated to understanding the world. Born in Barcelona in 1926, Castellet played an indispensable part in reconnecting Catalan culture with European life after its isolation due to the Spanish Civil War and the Franco regime. He initiated new projects, such as Laye magazine, and participated in significant events like the tribute to Antonio Machado in Montpellier and the organisation of the Formentor International Prizes.
A Key Figure in Catalan Culture
As a literary critic, Castellet published two key works of Spanish critical realism: La hora del lector (The Reader's Hour) and the anthology Veinte años de poesía española (1939-1959) (Twenty Years of Spanish Poetry, 1939-1959). He was also involved in Catalanist activism during the 1960s and supported cultural initiatives that opposed the Franco regime.
His connection with Catalan culture deepened through the Edicions 62 publishing house, where he directed the literary department. There, he built a fundamental catalogue for contemporary Catalan literature, bringing in international authors and promoting new generations of writers. Throughout his career, Castellet received many awards, including the Creu de Sant Jordi (1983), the Gold Medal of the City of Barcelona (1993), the Gold Medal of the Generalitat (1999), and the Trajectòria award from the Setmana del Llibre en Català (Catalan Book Week) in 2004.
This plaque for Josep M. Castellet is part of the Barcelona City of Literature programme. This initiative, involving various districts, aims to highlight and honour the city's most significant literary figures.
