Castellet, Josep Maria

b. 1926, Barcelona

   Writer and critic

   Castellet has arguably done more than most critics and editors to bring modern writing in both Spanish and Catalan to the attention of the reading public. Since 1964, he has been literary editor of the Barcelona publishing house Edicions 62. Anthologies such as Poesia catalana segle XX (Catalan Poetry of the Twentieth Century) (1963), with critical and historical introductions, gave a high profile to Catalan writing at a time when conditions were unfavourable for writing in languages other than Spanish. In 1970 he was awarded the Cross of St George (Creu de San Jordi) for services to Catalan culture.

   Major works

   - Castellet, J.M. and Molas, J. (1963) Poesia catalana del segle XX, Barcelona: Edicions 62. Castellet, J.M. (1966) Un cuarto de siglo de poesía española, 1939-1964, Barcelona: Seix Barral. Castellet, J.M. and Molas, J. (1979), Antologia general de la poesia catalana, Barcelona: Edicions 62.

   EAMONN RODGERS