Laia

Description

Founded in 1972, Editorial Laia took over for Editorial Estela, which had been shuttered by the Franco regime, retaining the managerial team made up of Alfons Comín and Josep Verdura. It worked in anti-Franco resistance and carried on its political commitment with the transition to democracy.

It also inherited the line of publications from Estela, although it also added new genres and themes. Laia published not only political, religious and sociological works but also new genres such as fiction, novels and philosophy.

In the early years, its policy was to expand its authors and collections in order to enlarge its output; it showcased fiction, making Laia a benchmark publishing house in this field. Initially, the majority of the books it issued were in Catalan, although in its later years the number of Spanish-language books has increased considerably with collections like Papel 451 and Colección Laia/Literatura.

However, with Comín’s death in 1980, the imprint began to suffer from economic hardships, which led it to fold in 1989. Part of its collections went to Edicions 62 in 1990.

Laia

Authors

The authors published by Laia reflect the publishing house’s expansion and its focus on fiction.

• Albanell, Josep, 1945-

• Artís-Gener, Avel·lí, 1912-2000

• Barbal, Maria, 1949-

• Cabré, Jaume, 1947-

• Calders, Pere, 1912-1994

• Calvino, Italo, 1923-1985

• Capmany, Maria Aurèlia, 1918-1991

• Carbó, Joaquim, 1932-

• Folch i Camarasa, Ramon, 1926-2019

• Gramsci, Antonio, 1891-1937

• Jordana, Cèsar August, 1893-1958

• Juan Arbó, Sebastià, 1902-1984

• Llull, Ramon, 1232-1316

• Maragall, Joan, 1860-1911

• Martorell, Joanot, ca. 1414-1468

• Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm, 1844-1900

• Oliver, Maria Antònia, 1946-2022

• Oller, Narcís, 1846-1930

• Perucho, Joan, 1920-2003

• Plató, 428 o 7-348 o 7 aC

• Sagarra, Josep M. de, 1894-1961

• Teixidor, Emili, 1933-2012

• Twain, Mark, 1835-1910

• Vallverdú, Josep, 1923-

• Verdaguer, Jacint, 1845-1902

Laia

Collections

Laia’s output is grouped into a variety of collections which reflect the broad range of titles. Prominent ones include El Mirall i el Temps, Les Eines, Les Eines de Butxaca, Textos Filosòfics and El Nus, among many others which encompass different topics such as gastronomy and education.

Cover of Milions d'ampolles buides by Manuel de Pedrolo from the Eines collection.

Catalogues from the El Nus collections

Catalogues from the collections

• El mirall i el temps (1984-1989)

• El nus (1981-1984)

• Les eines (1973-1983)

• Les eines de butxaca (1979-1985)

• Textos filosòfics (1981-1989)

Laia

Outstanding works

Most of the works published by Laia are fiction. Noteworthy publications include Trampa sota les aigües and Feliçment, jo sóc una dona. 

Cover of Trampa sota les aigües and Feliçment, jo sóc una dona.