At the time of his death in 1926, Antoni Gaud was arguably the most famous architect in the world. He had created some of the greatest and most controversial masterpieces of modern architecture, which were as exotic as they were outrageous. But little is known about the shadowy figure behind the swirling, vivid buildings that inspired the Surrealists.

This masterful biography brings both man and architect powerfully to life against the changing backdrop of Barcelona and Catalonia. Gijs van Hensbergen leads us through the design and construction of Gaud 's most significant buildings -- revealing their innovation and complexity, and demonstrating the growing relevance of Gaud 's architecture today.