Description
And so she decided to leave...
Book Summary
A story of love, war, and survival in 20th-century rural Catalonia. Pelegrí and Carmeta were born in a village where poverty was commonplace, but fate had a path in store for them marked by tragedy and injustice. From early loss to a coup d'état that cut their youth short, their lives intertwine in a tale that oscillates between fiction and reality. Just when fate seemed to be bringing them together, the greed of an unscrupulous man separated them forever. This novel is an emotional journey through pain, resilience, and the most bitter decision a person can make.
What is it about?
The novel follows the parallel lives of Pelegrí from cal Llibertari and Carmeta from ca l'Esperança, two people born in the same village on the same day of the week, but whose paths are marked by adversity from the start. Carmeta suffers a misfortune at a very young age, while a coup d'état—the Spanish Civil War—strips both of them of their youth. Having overcome the barbarity of war and other misfortunes, fate seems determined to unite them so they can share dreams and start a family. However, the intervention of a greedy and unscrupulous man prevents them from being together. The work moves between the boundaries of fiction and reality, exploring moments of struggle, injustice, deception, cruelty, pain, grief, resignation, revenge, passion, tenderness, friendship, suffering, and despair. Suffering becomes a constant in Carmeta's life, accompanying her from birth, and it is precisely this burden that leads her to make the most bitter decision of her existence: the decision to leave.
Main Themes
- Survival in the postwar period and rural Spain.
- Social injustice and greed as destructive forces.
- Love cut short by historical and personal circumstances.
- Pain and suffering as defining life experiences.
- Historical memory and the weight of the past on present decisions.
Who is it recommended for?
For readers interested in historical and social narratives set in 20th-century Spain, especially during the period of the Civil War and the postwar years. Also for those seeking stories of love and human resilience, with a realistic and emotional approach, narrated from the perspective of the most vulnerable characters. It is an ideal work for those who appreciate literature in Catalan and plots that explore memory and identity.
What this book offers
- A deep immersion into 20th-century rural Catalan life, with its hardships and resilience.
- A reflection on how history and injustice can shape people's destinies.
- A moving and tragic love story that shows the strength of human bonds in the face of adversity.
- A raw and uncompromising look at suffering and the capacity to make choices in extreme situations.
Technical Details
- Author: ALCOVERRO FOLQUE, PERE
- Publisher: Cossetània Edicions
- Language: Catalan
- Subject: MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY FICTION
- Collection: NARRATIVE
- Binding: Paperback
- Date of publication: October 2019
- Number of pages: 216
- Weight: 473 g
Editorial Review
A novel that successfully combines historical memory and personal drama. Alcoverro Folque constructs a narrative that, without renouncing the harshness of the events, manages to convey the humanity of its protagonists. The work will be of particular interest to those looking for stories that speak of deep Spain, the wounds of war, and the capacity to love and suffer under extreme conditions. It is a tale that, through fiction, engages with the reality of a time that marked several generations.