FREE: Camellia Street

The listing, Camellia Street has ended.

This is the second novel and last work of a major Catalan writer ( My Christina and Other Stories , Graywolf Pr., 1984; The Time of the Doves , Graywolf Pr., 1986). This simple, moving novel, which consists entirely of the monolog of a foundling girl brought up by nuns in Barcelona after the Civil War, will do much to justify its translator's claim that Rodoreda is "quite possibly the best Mediterranean woman author since Sappho." Searching in vain for emotional attachments or simple fulfillment, Cecilia leads a tenuous life as a prostitute in the streets and poor quarters of Barcelona. The starkness of the tale and the desperate life of the narrator are given memorable poignancy by the acute sensory impressions that Rodoreda records from within the narrow confines of her character. Collections that already contain works by this writer should certainly acquire this novel; others should consider purchasing all of her translated work.
- Eleanor Mitchell, Arizona State Univ. West, Phoenix
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