Josep Maria de Sagarra (Barcelona, 1894- 1961) was a playwright, journalist, memoirs writer, translator and, above all, poet. His vivid, rich use of language, his use of highly expressive rhetorical devices and, in particular, his aim of diverting or moving the reader and spectator brought him an enthusiastic reading public and theatre audiences. His novel Vida privada (Private Life – 1932) is deemed to be the quintessential Barcelona novel.