The Spanish terms cursi and cursileria are not easily translated, but they refer to a cultural phenomenon widely prevalent in Spanish society since the nineteenth century. This book examines the social meanings of cursi, viewing it as a window into modern Spanish history and particularly into the development of middle-class culture.
Similar to the term "kitsch" but evoking pretensions to elegance, "cursileria" and its role in the cultural life of modern Spain and the subjects of this work.
