In the popular Valencian imagination, the city of Sueca is usually associated with Catalanism, or vice versa, for a simple reason: it was in this city where Joan Fuster, a totemic figure of nationalism and Catalan and Valencian intellectuality, was born, lived and died. But Sueca is much more than that, because in its streets before the author of “Nosaltres els valencians” creators who are an indisputable part of Valencian cultural and social history were born, such as the composer José Serrano, author of the “Hymn of the Valencian community” or the great Bernat i Baldoví, master of the farce genre in Valencian, author of works such as “El virgo de Vicenteta”, as examples.
Even today, Sueca continues to provide writers, journalists and other types of creators to Valencian society, which is still curious in a population of just over 27,000 inhabitants. Much less than those that accumulate in nearby cities such as Cullera, Alzira or Torrent, which, while being significant in areas such as business activity or tourism, do not have as much significance in the field of culture and, especially, in the identity debate. In fact, the inhabitants of the two regions of La Ribera del Xúquer, Alta and Baja, often joke with the hypothesis that in Sueca “on every street there is a writer or a Catalanist.”
The list of authors born in this town, which by the way Josep Plà visited to eat rice with Joan Fuster, is extensive. To those mentioned, we must mention others such as the journalist, essayist and politician Francesc de Paula Burguera (1928-2015), who received the Creu de Sant Jordi from the Generalitat of Catalonia; the writer Josep Franco, the professor of Medieval History, Antoni Furió; to the writer Emili Piera, to the journalist Jesús Civera and, in other disciplines, to the architect Juan Guardiola, a precursor in Spain of art deco who was trained in Barcelona and who has left an interesting legacy of his creative excellence.
And one more fact: in the Swedish nation, a legendary player in the Valencian universe, Antonio Puchades Casanova (1925-2013), offensive midfielder who spent his entire career at Valencia CF, being an international and World Cup player with the Spanish Football Team. Also the autonomous deputy and former deputy in Congress, Joan Baldoví, who is the trustee of Compromís in the Valencian Courts.
List with some of its great references:
Joan Fuster: (1922-1992) He was an essayist, historian and literary critic. He is considered one of the most influential intellectuals in Valencian and Catalan culture of the 20th century. His writings cover a wide range of topics, from politics and sociology to culture and history, always from a critical perspective and committed to the defense of the Valencian identity and language.
José Bernat Baldoví: (1809-1864) Valencian writer and journalist known for his work in disseminating popular and traditional Valencian culture. He was a master of the genre known as “sainete.” His works address topics such as the history, customs and traditions of the Valencian Community, with a lot of humor and a strong erotic charge.
Josep Franco (1955): His narrative production, made up of works such as Calidoscope (1983), Manuscrit de Mossén Gerra (1993) and Rapsòdia, (1992) has received numerous literary awards. Some of his works become authentic best-sellers; like the novel “The Last Roder”
Francesc de Paula Burguera: (1940-2005) He was a Spanish poet, playwright, politician, journalist, essayist and businessman. His essayistic work allowed him to be an intellectual reference for Valencianism and Valencian nationalism. In fact, his work És més senzill… is a rigorous reflection on the evolution of Valencian nationalist thought.
Antoni Furió: (1958- ) He is a Spanish professor and researcher. Professor of Medieval History at the University of Valencia, former Director of Publications at the University of Valencia and chair since October 2011 of the progressive civic platform Valencians pel Canvi. She is a referent of the Valencian intelligentsia.
