The phrase ‘in a nutshell’ could have been invented to describe Maria Barbal’s short and occasionally sweet story.
Although the book is now in its 50th edition, this is the first time Stone in a Landslide has been translated into English. Described as the quintessential Catalan modern classic, the very short novel is an extraordinary exercise in brevity.
Filling just over 100 pages, Barbal proves that an economic use of the right words can tell a story just as well as an essay 10 times as
long. Divided into crisp chapters – many of which are no more than a few paragraphs – the book takes readers on a whistle-stop tour through a poor Spanish woman’s life, but a tour which feels as comprehensive as any epic novel.
When she is 13 years old, Conxa leaves her large family and is sent to work for her childless aunt and uncle. Although her youth is comprised of hardship and relentless work, she begins to feel happy in her new home and eventually meets Jaume, a charming young man who makes her heart sing. But the intervention of the Spanish Civil War will have far-reaching consequences for Conxa and her family.
With just a few lines, I was transported from a child’s birth to her teenage years, yet I was left with a fully rounded picture of the young woman she has become. With the turning of a few pages, I saw a feisty matriarch become a ‘shrivelled sparrow’ as age catches up with her and I felt like I hadn’t missed a moment of her long life.
Conxa’s story is not always a happy one and as the years pass, the reader can’t help pondering some of life’s sadder truths. But this is a wonderful achievement and a must-read for anyone with an interest in the potential of language.
No comments:
Post a Comment