La piazza del Diamante

A novel set in Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War and translated from the Catalan. Originally published in 1962, it is and it isn’t “another Spanish Civil War novel.” There is no fighting or scenes from the front. We only hear of the war from the perspective of a woman whose husband is fighting Leggi tutto

There's a reason why Gabriel Garcia Marquez learned Catalan just read to this novel. He called it "the most beautiful novel published in Spain since the Civil War." Great translation by poet David Rosenthal that captures the gorgeously off-handed rhythms and glowing repetitions of Rodereda's prose.

Ένα βιβλίο γεμάτο ανθρωπιά, αθωότητα, μιας άλλης εποχής που θα θέλαμε τα χαρακτηριστικά της να ήταν ζωντανά στη δικιά μας εποχή.

Literatura de alto nivel. Doña Merce Rodoreda es capaz de poner al descubierto de una forma franca el alma humana, el alma de una mujer asfixiada por la condición que le ha tocado en suerte. Usa un estilo depurado (creo que a base de mucho reescribir) de escritora con muchísimo oficio. Es imposible Leggi tutto

3.5 stars Lacking a mother to advise her, Natalia, whose ideas of romance and beauty seem to be symbolised by the colour white, which she loves to wear, is picked up by a douchecanoe so selfish and arrogant he takes her name from her and proceeds to arrange her life and possessions at his service. Ev Leggi tutto