Teach Yourself Catalan Complete Course Package (Book + 2CDs) (Teach Yourself Language Courses)
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Lack of language immersion
  • Pretty good but there's little else
  • The problem was Amazon
  • A great little course
  • Don't try this in your car!
Teach Yourself Catalan Complete Course Package (Book + 2CDs) (Teach Yourself Language Courses)
Alan Yates , and Anna Poch
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 0071430288

Book Description

Passing time in the Pyrenees? Teach yourself Catalan.

With Teach Yourself it's possible for virtually anyone to learn and experience the languages of the world, from Afrikaans to Zulu; Ancient Greek to Modern Persian; Beginner's Latin to Biblical Hebrew. Follow any of the Teach Yourself Language Courses Audiopacks at your own pace or use them as a supplement to formal courses. These complete courses are professionally designed for self-guided study, making them one of the most enjoyable and easy to use language courses you can find. Audiopacks include an instructional paperback book and two companion 60-minute audio CDs.

Prepared by experts in the language, each course begins with the basics and gradually promotes the student to a level of smooth and confident communication, including:

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Lack of language immersion.......2007-05-12

I would like to find a teaching book that could put me in Catalan idiom immersion. As it changes constantly from English to Catalan (and vice-versa), it took more difficult to assimilate the idiom.

Too few audio media. Need more do learn the idiom.

4 out of 5 stars Pretty good but there's little else.......2007-01-10

I have studied several languages and wanted to learn a little Catalan before a recent trip my husband and I took to Barcelona. This book helped. The CD is absolutely necessary because Catalan pronunciation is very different from English, Spanish and French although related to the latter two. My biggest complaint about the CD was there was rarely enough time to repeat phrases and sentences after the speakers.
I would recommend this course mainly because there is little else out there about Catalan. For this reason I gave it 4 stars. If there was more choice of programs the rating would probably go down to 3.

2 out of 5 stars The problem was Amazon .......2007-01-10

this order was processed twice, even after I had called and said this was adouble order!

5 out of 5 stars A great little course.......2006-04-27

I really like this language course, even though the previous edition may have provided more detail. Each chapter gives several practical dialogues, followed by grammar points and exercises. The CDs are very useful, following the text, but also include plenty of listening comprehension exercises with questions to answer in the book. As someone who is already advanced in Spanish and intermediate in French, I appreciate the way this book allows for rapid progress and presents useful phrases from the beginning. I also find the content engaging, never boring. For example, one chapter includes some useful Internet vocabulary, and another gives "personal ads" like you'd find in a newspaper, with an exercise to match the people up based on who they are and what they're looking for. So it's more of a colloquial language course, rather than an academic grammar book. It gives good suggestions at the end for where to find further resources for learning Catalan on the net. With this book and accompanying CDs, I feel very confident that I'll be able to speak and understand enough Catalan in time for my trip to Barcelona in a few months. I've already learned a lot in just a couple of weeks.

2 out of 5 stars Don't try this in your car!.......2006-01-31

Catalan is a difficult language to find audio lessons. I'm going to Barcelona in a couple of months, so I wanted a disc to learn some basics while I drive in the car . Apparently, the only way to use this audiopack is to read the book at the same time. It is not concise. It does not repeat basic information like numbers. It is truly not for the beginner. I suppose I'll use it to hear the ambiance of the language. I've looked into purchasing a different software pack from another web site.
Catalan Cuisine: Europe's Last Great Culinary Secret
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Excellent study of Catalan cuisine. Buy It.
  • Buy this book and eat your way through Catalonia
  • Turn any meal into a celebration of taste and delight!
  • For fans of Spanish cuisine.
  • AUTHENTIC CATALAN FOOD mmmmm
Catalan Cuisine: Europe's Last Great Culinary Secret
Colman Andrews
Manufacturer: Harvard Common Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1558321543

Book Description

Award-winning author Coleman Andrews explores a once undiscovered gem among Europe's great culinary traditions. The cooks of Catalonia use many of the same popular ingredients found in other Mediterranean cuisines, but they combine them in fresh and unexpectedly delicious ways. Try Paella Vallenciana, Tumbet (a Majorcan vegetable casserole), Canalons (the local spin on cannelloni), or the delightful Bunyols (fried pastries), to name just a few of the savory regional dishes. By learning their culinary secrets, you'll discover a fascinating history and culture of the Catalan people.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Excellent study of Catalan cuisine. Buy It........2006-06-12

`Catalan Cuisine, Vivid Flavors from Spain's Mediterranean Coast' by the very notable culinary journalist and editor, Colman Andrews, contributes to Spain's cuisine's being the third best documented European cuisine, after Italy and France. Andrews is an important figure in culinary reporting less from his books than from his position as editor of the excellent `Saveur' magazine which, with `Cooks Illustrated', should be one of the two magazines a foodie really should be reading.

`Catalan Cuisine' is as good or better than Andrews other ethno-culinary volume, `Flavors from the Riviera'. Like the earlier volume, its strengths lie primarily in history and a focus on ethnographic accuracy (without loosing too much in the way of practical cookery). For example, Andrews' recipe for the Catalan version of `tortilla espagnole' (potato frittata or omelet) is different from every other recipe I have seen from Spanish culinary experts such as Penelope Casas and Janet Mendel in that it contains no onion. This omission makes the dish a lot less interesting to me as food, but it reveals something which sets Catalan cooking apart from the rest of Spain.

In `Delicioso', Ms. Casas identifies Catalonia as the land of the casseroles. On first blush, there is little evidence of this attribution in Mr. Andrews' book. `Casserole' doesn't even appear in his index. But then, we recall a paragraph early in the book where Andrews identifies the most important cooking utensils in Catalonia. After the ubiquitous paella pan, there is the `cassola' (in Catalan, or `cazuela' in Castilian), an earthenware dish with deeper, straighter sides than a paella and an inside glaze. I really regret that Mr. Andrews didn't find his way clear to give us a picture of this dish, as I visualize it as a sort of `Tarte Tatin' dish a bit over 12 inches in diameter and about two inches deep.

One of the more interesting aspects of Andrews' books is that he always illuminates interesting historical and geographical aspects of his subject. On the Riviera, we learned that for a large part of its history, the French Riviera was politically a part of Italy. Here, we learn that the Catalan influenced region, `paisos catalans', extends into southwestern France, Valencia, the Balearic Islands, Andorra, and even a corner of Italian Sardinia. The evidence of this influence is the range of the Catalan language (`Spanish' is actually Castilian, one of the four official languages of Spain, including Basque and Galician), which is not simply a Spanish dialect, but a language of its own, as similar to Italian and French as to Castilian. This is due to the fact that Catalonia was the center of Roman influence in their province, `Hispanolia', and Barcelona was the principle Roman seaport to this region, through which was introduced olive and grape cultivation techniques.

Andrews' primary premise in this book is that Catalan cuisine is at least as distinctive in European food as, for example the cuisine of Campagnia (Naples and Southern Italy). To this end, his organization is highly analytical rather than simply being a collection of representative recipes. The flagship of things distinct about Catalan cuisine may be the four classic sauces of the region, `allioli', `sofregit', `picada', and `samfaina'. While each has some similarities to sauces well known to French and Italian cuisines, the real importance lies in the differences. `Allioli' in Catalonia is made exclusively with garlic and olive oil plus salt (All Catalan food is heavily salted). Other minor ingredients such as vinegar and herbs are allowed (making it seem very much like vinaigrette). The similar Provencal sauce, `Aioli which includes eggs is dismissed as `fancy mayonnaise' which, by the way, Catalans claim was invented in Minorca and not the French city of Mayenne. `Sofregit' is similar to the Italian `soffritto' and the French `mirepoix'. `Picada' is very similar to the `pesto' of nearby Liguria in Italy. Samfaina is similar to ratatouille, cooked down to the consistency of a relish.

Next, practically a third of the book is taken up by `Part Three: The Raw Materials', in which Andrews discusses and presents recipes for the fifteen most important ingredients, which are eggplant, nuts, anchovies, rice, poultry, salt cod, mushrooms, wild game, snails, legumes, organ meats, olives and olive oil, eggs, seafood, and `the pig'. To the logical among us, this may seem a bit messy since one would think that anchovies and salt cod would fall under `seafood', and that organ meats would fall under `the pig', but it all works well enough, as the categories are a way of organizing recipes and not a guide to the Barcelona commodities market.

I really like the fact that aside from having an excellent bibliography, the book refers to several important books on related subject not only to support a point, but also to refer one to important recipes Andrews does not include himself in this book. His most important references are to Penelope Casas' `The Food and Wine of Spain' for recipes on sausage making. This is symptomatic, in that Parsons has no recipes for `basic' techniques such as pasta, pastry, bread, or charcuterie (sausages), in spite of the fact that both pasta and sausage and ham are important Catalan culinary products.

Andrews makes up for his unusual organization by providing an excellent Appendix of `Recipes according to Category' and other useful sources for Spanish tourism and shopping.

I think it's ironic that at the top of the cover is a blurb by the famous Barcelona chef, Ferran Adria praising the book, while there is not a single reference to Adria or El Bulli in this 1988 original book.

A superb culinary essay. Excellent for lovers of Spanish food and foodies in general.

5 out of 5 stars Buy this book and eat your way through Catalonia.......2001-05-10

Catalan cuisine is ancient. It earliest roots go all the way back to the Romans who occupied northeastern Spain.

It uses many of the same ingredients as other Mediterranean cuisines -- tomatoes, eggplant, garlic, beans, pasta and all kinds of meat -- but it combines them in unexpected ways.

Who would expect salt cod with honey, for example? Catalan cuisine has it, and Colman Andrews presents its recipe here. And who would expect a restaurant which specializes in salt cod? Andrews tells us that Barcelona has one.

He says that one very unusual -- indeed unique -- feature of Catalan cuisine is its habit of mixing olive oil and lard together, in the same dish, as a cooking oil. Catalans also use butter as a cooking fat, making for rich, nourishing, tasty dishes.

Catalonia has both mountains and seashore. So one may find spiny lobster stew (Civet de Llogosta) on the one hand and Andorran-style trout (Truita de Riu Andorrana) on the other.

5 out of 5 stars Turn any meal into a celebration of taste and delight!.......2000-05-04

In Catalan Cuisine, Colman Andrews draws upon the great cooking traditions of Spain's Catalonia region. This superb collection of regional dishes showcases the simple and vibrant flavors in hundreds of Catalonia's best and beloved recipes ranging from Valencian Paella with Shellfish; Eggplant Flan; and Sweet Red Peppers Stuffed with Duck, to Salt Cod with Garlic and Paprika; Pork-Stuffed Apples, and Cinnamon Ice Cream with Warm Strawberry Coulis. The recipes are "kitchen cook friendly" and will turn any family meal into a celebration of taste and delight.

5 out of 5 stars For fans of Spanish cuisine........2000-02-04

This study of Catalan cuisine provides an in-depth and excellent approach to the foods and customs of the Spanish province. No color photos, but the book is packed with not only recipes, but observations of the culinary traditions which make Catalan cuisine unique. An outstanding reference.

5 out of 5 stars AUTHENTIC CATALAN FOOD mmmmm.......1999-12-09

I am a Catalan person living abroad, and sometimes it is difficult to explain friends that Catalan food is something different to what everybody knows as Mediterranean food, since being totally Mediterranean, it is not Italian nor French. This books discovers the authentic taste of Catalan food, that, as the author says, HAS TO BE DISCOVERED. Try it and enjoy your meals. I can say that CATALAN FOOD IS ONE MILLION BETTER THAN ITALIAN AND FRENCH. It keeps simple and accentuated flavors with simple raw materials, but obtaining an PERFECT COMBINATION.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE AUTHOR, and please continue plublishing thousands of more recipes of Catalan food.
Catalan-English/English-Catalan Dictionary (Hippocrene Concise Dictionary)
Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
  • of limited use to travellers
  • Galician Dictionary
  • Handy & Useful Refernce for Catalan Speakers
  • avoid this one
  • Words, but little else.
Catalan-English/English-Catalan Dictionary (Hippocrene Concise Dictionary)
M. S. Sabater , and J. A. Freixinet
Manufacturer: Hippocrene Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0781800994

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars of limited use to travellers.......2005-09-16

Having just returned from Barcelona, we found that this little book was not useful at all. The book is divided in half, first a Catalan to English section and then English to Catalan section, which lists words alphabetically and includes the part of speech and the counter-word, but little else. There is no pronunciation key, which is really important for the Catalan language. Neither were there any phrases or sections of particular use to the traveller. In Barcelona, we found that most people spoke a little English or were able to use Spanish, so we didn't use this dictionary at all. We used smaller books that contained travel phrases and gave some hint to pronunciation instead.

3 out of 5 stars Galician Dictionary.......2005-09-06

This dictionary is more of a large glossary than a dictionary in the proper sense. It is good for having a long list of vocabulary words in gallego, but it gives nothing beyond that. Most entries have only one word as the translation and there is little to nothing in the way of multiple meanings, grammatical/ colloquial uses or verb conjugations.

4 out of 5 stars Handy & Useful Refernce for Catalan Speakers.......2002-04-09

Usually when traveling to a foreign locale, a traveler tends not to like to carry so much on hand when exploring the sights sounds, and culture of an area. While many try to avoid looking like tourists by pulling out maps or travel books out of their bags or pockets, sometimes it is necessary to have a compact-sized dictionary on hand when their is a communication problem.

The "Catalan-English/Catalan Dictionary" by M.S. Sabater and J.A. Freixnet is the perfect solution when traveling throughout Spain's autonomous Catalonia region. Fiercely independent from Madrid, Catalans have taken great pride in promoting use of their language ever since the end of the Franco regime that prohibited the use of Catalan in public. Taught privately in homes, Catalan was able to survive and now is seeing a resurgence in popularity and commercial use as more and more tourists arrive in eastern Spain. The language, spoken mainly in eastern Spain, southeastern France, Andorra (its' official language) and in Italy (on the island of Sardinia), this dictionary is helpful for those who already have a knowledge of how to pronounce words in Catalan. I bought two copies of the book, and sent one to a friend of mine in Terrassa, and he has told me it has been one of the greatest gifts anyone has given him, since most Catalan dictionaries sold in Spain are large and bulky. Hippocrene Press, a publisher of many foreign-language books did a great job in producing a small dictionary for Catalan speakers, however the lack of a pronunciation guide is the only negative thing about this book. As a fluent Spanish speaker I try to avoid pronouncing words in Spanish because I want to respectful to the Catalan culture, but it can be difficult not to.

Regardless of this omission, this is a great book to have if you're walking through the streets of Barcelona, sunning yourself on Ibiza, shopping Andorra's duty-free markets, or just to understand general street signs and billboards throughout Catalonia. Instead of looking like a tourist, if you were to pull this book out in Barcelona, you are likely to win the admiration and respect of Catalonia's proud inhabitants.

1 out of 5 stars avoid this one.......2001-10-05

I found this dictionary almost worthless. It carefully includes rarities like "xebec" and "yawl," but hours of trying to read Catalan with it proved that it lacks many basic words on both the Catalan and English sides. It should have been superseded by the excellent "mini" dictionary published by Enciclopèdia Catalana, which I discovered later.

3 out of 5 stars Words, but little else........2000-05-06

I purchased this book for an upcoming trip to Catalunya, and for my own desire to learn Catalan. While the dictionary has served its purpose adequately (i.e. defined vague road signs and words in the hotel), it lacks in two areas.

First, there are no pronounciation guides. This wouldn't be a problem, but the only "Teach Yourself" book on Catalan also lacks in the area of pronounciation.

Second, the dictionary is too abridged. Now, of course adding to it increases the size, which makes use for travel unwieldy. However, if it is going to be marketed to the traveller, then it should contain more travel type words than it does.

In short, I would recommend the dictionary to the traveller, but only because its the only Catalan Engligh Dictionary I could find in such a small size. However, the serious student is going to need something more.
Compact Dictionary English-Catalan / Catala-Angles (Spes)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Compact Dictionary English-Catalan / Catala-Angles (Spes)

    Manufacturer: European Schoolbooks
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    ASIN: 8483324083
    Mental Health and HIV Infection (Social Aspect of Aids Series)
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Mental Health and HIV Infection (Social Aspect of Aids Series)
      Jose Catalan
      Manufacturer: Routledge
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

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      ASIN: 1857281713
      Catalan Cuisine
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Catalan Cuisine
        Colman Andrews
        Manufacturer: Harvard Common Press
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Paperback

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        4. The Cuisines of Spain: Exploring Regional Home Cooking The Cuisines of Spain: Exploring Regional Home Cooking
        5. The Foods and Wines of Spain The Foods and Wines of Spain

        ASIN: 1558323295

        Product Description

        Revered writer Colman Andrews explores a once undiscovered gem among Europe's great culinary traditions. Using many of the same ingredients that other Mediterranean cuisines are known for, Catalonian cooks combine them in fresh and unexpectedly delicious ways. Try "fricando," braised veal with wild mushrooms; "tumbet," a Majorcan vegetable casserole; or "bunyols," a delectable fried pastry. These and many other tempting dishes along with a wealth of information on the history and lore of the region make this the definitive guide to the food culture of Catalan.
        Cambridge Word Selector : English - Catalan
        Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
        • Este " nuevo concepto de diccionario bilingue" es excelente.
        Cambridge Word Selector : English - Catalan
        Michael McCarthy
        Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Hardcover

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        ASIN: 0521480264

        Book Description

        Cambridge Word Routes and Word Selectors are a range of unique bilingual reference books in which words and phrases are organised in topic groups, helping learners to explore related vocabulary in a way that is not possible in conventional dictionaries. The learner's own language is used in all explanations, making the information easy to use.

        Customer Reviews:

        4 out of 5 stars Este " nuevo concepto de diccionario bilingue" es excelente........1999-06-14

        From the book: "Todas las explicaciones y normas de uso aparecen en español. Palabras y expresiones agrupadas por temas. Distingue claramente entre palabras que son casi sinónimas en inglés. Profusamente ilustrado."This book is a must for intermediate and advanced students. Enthusiastic beginners will also benefit and will use this book as a reference again and again. It is more than a bi-lingual thematic dictionary; it is is a picture dictionary, a thesaurus and a vacabulary builder as well. The section on *Danger/Peligro* not only presents the bi-lingual definition/explanation/example for the word *danger*, but also listed immediately after are the bi-lingual definitions and explanations for dangerously, endanger, jeopardy, hazard, pitfall, risky, unsafe, etc. Although the book is geared toward those whose primary language is Spanish and the introduction and *how to* sections are written in Spanish, speakers of English who are students of Spanish can also benefit greatly. There are only two drawbacks for me: 1) There is no table of contents and the word groups don't seem to be listed in any particular order. The student must look up specific words in the index in the back of the book which lists the pages where each word can be found. But then, it's a very good index indeed and all words used in the book - both English and Spanish - are listed. 2) The Spanish used i.e., "¿Os conocéis?" for "Do you two know each other?" - Iberian rather than American Spanish- might be a tad confusing for beginners who live in the Americas. The more *experienced* beginners will be easily able to make the distinction. The good news is that the authors do take time to distinguish between British English and American English spellings, usage and phraseology.
        The Catalans: A Novel
        Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
        • A fascinating view of a master honing his skills
        • A rich novel of dark shades
        • A great novel
        • CATALUNYA is not in France
        The Catalans: A Novel
        Patrick O'Brian
        Manufacturer: W. W. Norton
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        Binding: Hardcover

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        ASIN: 0393051102

        Book Description

        A dark story of love and betrayal set against the brilliant colors of the Catalan country in southern France.

        This novel, long out of print, is a powerful successor to Testimonies, Patrick O'Brian's first novel written for adults. It is set in that corner of France that became O'Brian's adopted home, where the long dark wall of the Pyrenees runs headlong to meet the Mediterranean. Alan Roig returns to Saint-Féliu after years in the East, and finds his family in crisis. His dour, middle-aged cousin Xavier, mayor and most powerful citizen of the town, has fallen in love and plans to marry the young daughter of the local grocer. The Roig family property is threatened by this union, and Madeleine's relatives object on different grounds.

        Xavier is a tragic figure, damned by what he perceives as a lack of feeling; Madeleine is to be his salvation. Unfortunately she does not return his affection, and as the feasts and harvest festivals of Saint-Féliu are played out, she finds herself falling in love with Alain.

        Customer Reviews:

        4 out of 5 stars A fascinating view of a master honing his skills.......2007-08-24

        This is a fascinating work. Not a casual read. You have to be prepared to let yourself sink into many lengthy "descriptive" passages about that corner of southern France where the east end of the Pyrenees officially marks the Spanish border. The Catalan world and language bridge the nations, and O'Brian is clearly enthralled by them.

        The plot is outlined in other reviews: the story of Alain Roig, the middle-aged learned doctor returning from a long stay in the Far East to the Catalan town of his birth, in response to a summons to help in a huge family issue, and how it plays out to everyone's surprise and probably the family's initial dismay, though as one puts the book down one can consider that they will probably feel it was for the best - except unhappy Xavier.

        Mostly, the plot is a framework for O'Brian to create an in-depth exploration of some unusual and troubling states of the human heart, and to develop, try out, aspects of writing technique. Xavier's night-long soliloquy about his frightening lack of true emotion, his dismay at being inhumanly cold in situations that seem to demand a wrenching involvement, is a kind of tour-de-force in both respects.

        Some little things amusingly foreshadow the Aubrey-Maturin series: the experiment with switching from regular narrative form, to scripting as in plays: "XAVIER: (some statement) ALAIN: the reply)." He uses this when there is a sustained interchange between two people, just to get away from the monotonous "Xavier said...Alain replied..." And this foreshadows the point in one of the A-M series which many critics have tut-tutted about, where someone has a musical instrument and O'Brian just writes "Plays." exactly like a stage-direction.

        Then there is the performer clad in the skin of a bear, foreshadowing Jack's Aubrey's perilous escape through France to Spain. Again ,this is something that has been criticized as being too far-fetched: I think O'Brian just didn't want to waste a neat idea. Of course, the references to Alain's life in Prabang clearly foreshadow the East Indies episodes of A-M. Then, too, the beautiful Madeleine gives a glimpse of Diana Villiers: "..she moved with incredible distinction...Her fine head poised....She was in spirits too, that brilliant day..." O'Brian really admires grace in movement, mentioned many and many a time about Diana, for whom the most apt adjective would always be "spirited." (Though Madeleine is unlike Diana in other ways.)

        The one thing that is completely lacking, in comparison with A-M, is any touch of humor. This story addresses itself to its characters and its settings with full seriousness. One would never, from this book, expect the overflowing, bubbling yet quiet wit that so totally pervades the A-M series. He must have mellowed by then.

        Do not read this book if you are one of the many reviewers here who complain that books are "too long" or "too slow-moving," but if you like immersing yourself in an amazingly detailed world of people and place, you will enjoy it. But four stars, because I have to admit, in some ways the writing could be called a little self-indulgent.


        4 out of 5 stars A rich novel of dark shades.......2007-07-05

        For Patrick O'Brian's many fans of the towering nineteen novels of the Jack Aubrey series, the republication of The Catalans is an opportunity to get a different view some of the building blocks which in the series found their finest expression. The Catalan culture he paints so vividly, and the personalities and reflections of Xavier and Alain, the principal characters, representing aspects of O'Brians own character, resonate throughout with chords that are heard woven into the Aubrey books, but it must be said that whereas in the Aubrey series they are leavened with fine story telling, naval scholarship and above all wit, The Catalans is an altogether more introspective preparatory interlude.

        Do not read this novel for a fast-moving adventure. But read it nonetheless, for there is much that is fine here. Xavier is a memorable, if off-putting, creature, and Alain's reflections have the immediacy of autobiography which adds some fascination. O'Brian's women are as always two dimensional creations which will continue to deny him a large appreciative female readership, but his descriptive passages are as wonderful as anything in his oeuvre, and The Catalans will haunt you long after you replace it on your shelf.

        5 out of 5 stars A great novel.......2006-10-18

        After having read most (but not all) of the naval historical novels of P.O'Brian, this book a very good and pleasant surprise. I did certainly like all of Maturin's and Aubrey's novels, but this is a much more profound immersion into human nature, feelings and behavior. The descriptions of the main actors and of the old style "Mediterranean" families around them (sorry for the previous real "Catalan" reviewer, this novel could have been written around the geographical details of many other corners facing this sea) are extremely well constructed and give a good and faithful picture of the culture and traditions of families around this region.
        What could otherwise be a fairly trivial love story is used as a pretext to explore the deep feelings, the emotions and the driving forces of two very different men. Some pages reminded me somehow of the magical atmosphere in Sandor Marai's "Embers", certainly the long dialog at night between the two protagonists is very evocative in this sense. If you liked Marai's book, I am confident that you will enjoy this one.

        4 out of 5 stars CATALUNYA is not in France.......2006-01-16

        The Amazon review reads that this novel "is set in that corner of France that became O'Brian's adopted home". I am sorry, but that is not true. I am Catalan and my country is not in any corner of France. It is located in the North East of the Iberic Peninsula, in Spain. San Feliu de Guíxols, one of the towns appearing in that book, is located in Catalunya. In 1659, with the Pyrinees Treatment, Spain gave the North of Catalonia to France. That part of Catalonia, today in France, is beyond the Pyrinees (Perpinyà, Cotlliure, etc.). But most part of Catalunya is in Spain today. Catalunya is a nation, despite the Spaniards are oppresing us, they steal our money, humiliate our language and culture, and don't let us be what we are. Someday we'll be free again! Thanks and God bless Catalunya and the US.
        Oh, by the way ... good book!
        Diccionari Pocket Catala Angles English Catalan/Pocket Dictionary Catalan English English Catalan
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          Diccionari Pocket Catala Angles English Catalan/Pocket Dictionary Catalan English English Catalan

          Manufacturer: Larousse Panteta Sa Avda
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Paperback

          English (All)English (All) | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | Reference | Subjects | Books
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          ASIN: 8480164182
          School Dictionary English-catalan/catala-angles
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            School Dictionary English-catalan/catala-angles

            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Paperback

            English (All)English (All) | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
            GeneralGeneral | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
            GeneralGeneral | Reference | Subjects | Books
            ASIN: 8483324075

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