Description
THE FORCE
Book summary
A novel that combines dark humor with social critique and historical memory. The reader will accompany Martín Feito, a neurasthenic and uninspired writer, on his peculiar flight to a mining town dominated by an imposing thermal power plant. There, his search for a story to tell will unexpectedly collide with the last survivors of a guerrilla band, leading to a plot that oscillates between the absurd and the defiant. Xaime Martínez, 2019 National Poetry Prize winner, offers a biting and original narrative work.
What is it about?
Martín Feito is a neurasthenic writer who receives a literary grant, a circumstance that, far from being an opportunity, becomes a problem: he lacks a clear idea and knows himself to be a fraud. In his search for inspiration, he retreats to Chaneces, an almost deserted village located in a valley dominated by "the Plant," a thermal facility whose imposing chimney and the constant hum of its engines set the pace of life in the area.
What Martín does not know is that in those same mountains hide Manulón from Porgüechu and his comrades, the last resistors of a guerrilla band that refuses to surrender to the Empire. The aspiring novelist will then find himself immersed in a dangerous dynamic, carrying readings back and forth behind the backs of the police forces pursuing them, all while trying to give shape to his own work.
Main themes
- The creative crisis and the imposture of the writer.
- The historical memory of the anti-Franco resistance.
- The conflict between industrialization and the rural world.
- Social satire and dark humor as a narrative tool.
- The search for identity in an oppressive environment.
Who is it recommended for?
For readers looking for contemporary narrative with a distinct literary style, who appreciate acid humor and social critique. It is also an ideal work for those interested in historical memory from an original and unconventional perspective, and for followers of Xaime Martínez’s work who want to discover his facet as a novelist.
What this book offers
- An original plot that fuses a writer's personal crisis with an episode of historical resistance.
- Careful and biting prose, characteristic of a National Poetry Prize winner.
- A deep reflection on the creative process and authenticity.
- A different look at the guerrilla struggle, far from cliché and tinged with irony.
Technical data
- Author: MARTINEZ, XAIME
- Publisher: HOJA DE LATA EDITORIAL
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY FICTION
- Collection: ALBENTESTATE
- Publication date: November 2021
- Number of pages: 140
- Weight: 331 g
Editorial review
A work that surprises with its ability to move from humor to reflection without losing coherence. Xaime Martínez demonstrates a mastery of language that enriches a seemingly simple story, yet one loaded with nuances. The contrast between the figure of the blocked writer and the context of rural resistance generates a narrative tension that maintains the reader's interest. Recommended for those looking for a brief but intense read, with a historical background treated from an original and uncompromising perspective.