Description
Carboneras
Book Summary
A novel that rescues from oblivion the silenced history of women in the Asturian mining basins. Through their daily lives, the reader discovers the quiet struggle of the carboneras: wives, mothers, and daughters of miners who, while the men worked in the pits, faced coal dust, silicosis, repression, and social abandonment. A work that combines historical memory, social realism, and raw emotions.
What is it about?
Set in the 1960s in Montecorvo del Camino, a fictional mining town within Alfonso Zapico's graphic universe, the novel narrates the lives of the women who worked in the hoppers, sorting the ore and removing impurities. These carboneras not only endured harsh working conditions and lung disease but also held the home together, raised children, cared for the elderly, and wove networks of solidarity among themselves. The story unfolds amidst tears, love, and the daily battle, compounded by the oppression of a ruling class that turned coal regions into a stage for repression and torture.
Main Themes
- Historical memory of women in Asturian mining during the post-war period and the Franco regime.
- The fight against silicosis and coal-related occupational diseases.
- Female solidarity and support networks in contexts of poverty and repression.
- Political and social repression in mining basins during the sixties.
- The invisible role of women in the mining economy and family life.
Who is it recommended for?
Readers interested in historical fiction with a social background, especially those seeking stories centered on the role of women in 20th-century Spain. It is also an ideal read for those who enjoy narratives that combine realism, emotion, and social critique, as well as fans of Alfonso Zapico's narrative universe and his trilogy La Balada del Norte (The Ballad of the North).
What this book contributes
- It makes visible an overlooked historical reality: the work and lives of women in the Asturian mines.
- It offers an intimate and human perspective on Francoist repression in the mining basins.
- It connects fiction with real historical events, enriching the understanding of the past.
- It presents an emotional and powerful narrative that appeals to empathy and collective memory.
Technical Specifications
- Author: Castaño, Aitana; Zapico, Alfonso
- Publisher: Editorial Pez de Plata
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: Modern and contemporary fiction, Historical fiction, Humor
- Collection: Narrativa Pez de Plata
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication Date: November 2020
- Number of pages: 208
- Weight: 295 g
Editorial Review
A necessary novel that rescues from silence the women who sustained Asturian mining from the shadows. Its focus on daily life and female resistance, combined with the historical context of repression, makes it a moving read of great testimonial value. Recommended for those looking for fiction with social consciousness and historical depth.