Description
STONE ANGELS
Book Summary
A thrilling exploration of the early 20th century in Reus, where a grand urban planning project for a garden city, a forged painting, labor strikes, and a farmhouse at the Boca de la Mina intersect. Rosa Pagès weaves a mosaic of characters trapped by passions, madness, grand ideals, and greed, offering the reader a journey through the intimate and secret history of a city that misses the train of progress. A novel that masterfully combines historical fiction with social transformations and currents of utopian thought.
What is it about?
The novel transports the reader to the early 20th century in Reus, a period of great change and social effervescence. The plot is structured around an ambitious project for a garden city, which is tainted by the discovery of a forged painting and a climate of labor strikes and calls to the army. At the same time, a farmhouse at the Boca de la Mina and the motto "Renascitur" of a psychiatric institution act as symbols of an era of transformation. Through a mosaic of diverse characters, the author explores the tensions between grand utopian ideals and the reality of a city struggling to find its place in a rapidly changing world, all while uncovering the passions and secrets that shape their lives.
Main Themes
- The urban utopia and the dream of the garden city at the beginning of the 20th century.
- Artistic forgery as a reflection of human greed and ambition.
- Social conflict and labor struggles in a context of industrial transformation.
- Madness and the psychiatric institution as a space of marginalization and reflection.
- Missing the train of progress and the nostalgia for a future that never arrived.
- Human passions, grand ideals, and the contradictions of an era.
Who is it recommended for?
For readers interested in historical novels set in Catalonia, especially those who wish to discover the Reus of the early 20th century. Also for lovers of choral narratives that blend fiction, real events, and social reflection, as well as for anyone looking for a work that combines personal drama with the portrait of an era of change.
What this book offers
- An immersive journey to the Reus of the early 20th century, with its projects, conflicts, and emblematic characters.
- A reflection on utopia, progress, and the contradictions of modernity.
- A plot rich in secrets, passions, and twists that keep the reader's interest.
- A multifaceted vision of society through diverse and well-constructed characters.
- The opportunity to learn about a local historical episode from a literary and human perspective.
Technical Data
- Author: PAGÈS, ROSA
- Publisher: Cossetània Edicions
- Language: cat
- Subject: MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY FICTION
- Collection: NOTES DE COLOR
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: October 2003
- Number of pages: 200
- Weight: 438 g
Editorial Review
A novel that stands out for its ability to merge fiction with local history, offering a narrative that goes beyond the anecdotal to delve into the aspirations and contradictions of an era. The construction of a mosaic of characters and the inclusion of elements such as artistic forgery or urban utopia grant it a depth that can captivate both the reader interested in the Reus of the past and those looking for a narrative rich in nuances and emotions. Recommended for anyone who wants to enjoy a reading that combines historical rigor with narrative passion.