Description
THE DESTROYED GODS
Book Summary
This first collection of poems, winner of the 2022 Adonáis Prize runner-up award, is presented as a travelogue that transcends geography to become a poetic inquiry into memory and the European cultural crisis. Lola Tórtola deploys a fresh and mature voice to narrate a journey through Italy, Greece, and Central Europe, where the classical landscape becomes a mirror of a lost Arcadia and the stage for a vital apprenticeship. The work offers a reflection on the transition to maturity, the awareness of transience, and the need to build one's own identity in the face of the legacy of a declining world.
What is it about?
The poetry collection is structured in two parts that engage in dialogue with each other. The first, which gives the volume its title, captures the experience of a trip shared with friends through southern Europe. In it, the settings of Italy and Greece are not mere backdrops, but become the reflection of an abolished Arcadia, a youthful paradise that fades away. The author observes the ruins of classical culture and superimposes them onto the contemporary European cultural crisis, establishing a parallel between the lost splendor and the awareness of an uncertain present. The second part of the book delves into the realization that life extends beyond the bubble of youth. Through recent memories and the observation of the environment, the poet explores the process of ceasing to be young, of assuming maturity, and of finding a new language to name reality. The physical journey is thus transformed into an inner journey toward the understanding of oneself and the place one occupies in the world.
Main themes
- The journey as a metaphor for maturity and self-knowledge.
- The European cultural crisis and the loss of classical references.
- Memory and nostalgia as tools for processing the past.
- The end of youth and the acceptance of the passage of time.
- The construction of personal identity in a changing world.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers of contemporary poetry who appreciate travel lyrics and cultural reflection. It is especially recommended for those looking for a young voice with expressive maturity, capable of addressing universal themes such as the passage of time, loss, and the search for meaning. It will also interest those who enjoy poetry that draws on the observation of landscape and history, as well as followers of the Adonáis collection and new talents in Spanish poetry.
What this book contributes
- An original poetic look at the European cultural crisis, connecting personal experience with historical heritage.
- An honest and delicate exploration of the transition from youth to maturity, free from clichés.
- A fresh and consolidated lyrical voice, recognized with the prestigious 2022 Adonáis Prize runner-up award.
- A travel book that invites reflection on one's own life through geography and art.
Technical specifications
- Author: TÓRTOLA, LOLA
- Publisher: EDICIONES RIALP S.A.
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: POETRY
- Collection: POETRY. ADONAIS
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: March 2023
- Number of pages: 72
- Weight: 83 g
Editorial review
The Destroyed Gods is a collection of poems that surprises with the maturity of its proposal, especially considering it is a debut work. Lola Tórtola manages to weave a coherent lyrical discourse that intertwines the vital experience of the journey with a broader reflection on culture and time. The work is distinguished by its ability to evoke landscapes and emotions with remarkable precision and sensitivity. For the reader interested in poetry that engages with both classical tradition and modernity, this book represents a valuable acquisition and a gateway to a promising poetic voice within the current landscape.