The celebrated art nouveau architect Antoni Gaudí was a contradictory figure: deeply religious and politically right-wing, he nevertheless created revolutionary, lyrical buildings. This book explores Gaudí’s life, work and influences, from Catalan nationalism to the Industrial Revolution. Michael Eaude expertly guides readers through Gaudí’s great works – including the Sagrada Família, which attracts millions of tourists to Barcelona each year – and examines his monumental life, from the architect’s provincial upbringing in Reus to his time in Barcelona, where he became a dandy whose only attempt at marriage was rejected. Gaudí later suffered a nervous breakdown, became obsessively religious, and fused Gothic, Baroque and Orientalist architecture into his unique style.