General introduction / Helen Constantine -- Introduction / Peter Bush -- What happened to Don Quixote when he went to Barcelona? / Miguel de Cervantes -- Transplanted / Narcís Oller -- A brief, heart-warming story of a Madame Bovary born and bred in Gràcia, following our best principles and traditions / Montserrat Roig -- Ramon from Montjuic / Josep Pla -- Blitz on Barcelona / C.A. Jordana -- A detective story / Juan Marsé -- The three steps / Miquel Molina -- Dead time / Teresa Solana -- The shoeshine and La Locomotora / Alfredo Bryce Echenique -- Neighbours / Jordi Nopca -- Which country do you want? / Empar Moliner -- The sound of keys / Najat El Hachmi -- The boy who was sure to die / Quim Monzó -- Julio, the parrot, and the taxi driver / Jorge Carrión