diamond square
Diamond Square -or La Placa del Diamant, by its original title in Catalan—is the most famous novel by the icon Mercè Rodoreda, one of the most referenced Spanish writers throughout the last century. This work, in particular, was published by the Edhasa publishing house in 1962. Since then, it has had several editions, including one in 2007. It has also been made into a theater and film.
This may be one of the Catalan fictions that has had the greatest impact on writers of the generations after Rodoreda's, given the quotes that have been made regarding it. Gabriel García Márquez, for example, expressed that “Diamond Square "It is the most beautiful novel that has been published in Spain since the civil war", although, on the other hand, it is a work forgotten by critics.
Synopsis of Diamond Square
The portrait of a war
The novel continues Natalia's story, a young woman nicknamed «Colometa». It is a lady who must adhere to the norms of a society that does not understand her, next to a man with whom she is not happy and who, furthermore, does not collaborate enough with her two children. At the same time, the protagonist is the focus that directs the reader to one of the most dramatic moments in history: the Civil War and the postwar period.
Spain has been devastated after the riots of each of these events, and all the people who inhabit the country must transform to survive. The crisis has forced them to become strong or, simply, to show its true nuances. The plot is set in Barcelona, a city of which Mercè Rodoreda creates an extremely reliable picture.
The consequences of the battle
For no one is a secret that The Spanish Civil War left consequences that are impossible to erase. You only have to review Iberian literature, music, theater or cinema to realize how affected the country was after the massacre, the fear, anguish and subsequent depression, both in the citizens and in the economy and the other edges of civilization.
In addition to all the soldiers who died and the people who died because of some collateral event, there was a mass exodus that destroyed entire families, courtships, dream jobs and the hope of a bright future. This is a topic that is covered excellently in Diamond Square. The novel tells of the resilience of the Spanish, especially those who, like Natalia, were different.
Adapt to survive
Like all other women of her time, La Colometa will be exposed to misery, hunger and uncertainty of not being able to give his children something to eat, as well as the terrible fact of seeing many of the people he loves die and leave. On the other hand, there is not much she can do as long as she is attached to a selfish man who is incapable of providing her happiness.
Before his metamorphosis, Natalia used to give all the power and prominence to her husband, and he accepted the conventions of his time without question, although it is evident that he felt repudiation for everything that his condition represented. However, throughout the novel, his character, convictions and actions they change to show a strong woman, who is capable of going through the worst misfortunes.
Narrative style of Mercè Rodoreda
En Diamond Square, the author presents a simple, direct and, to a certain extent, poetic style. Landscapes serve with metaphors and symbols to define the most intimate feelings of their protagonist., who has a sincere and naive voice, given the nature of her role as a relegated woman who, unfortunately, stops submitting to a man to do so before a system that not only oppresses her, but also her peers.
Adaptations of Diamond Square
After its publication, The work was edited and translated into more than forty languages. Later, it was made into a film by director Francesc Betriu. The footage turned out to be so long that the leftover pieces were used to create a television series of four one-hour episodes. On the other hand, the novel was adapted into a play in the form of a monologue, and was released in 2014.
About the author
Mercè Rodoreda i Gurguí was born on October 10, 1908, in Barcelona, Spain. Her parents were two great lovers of literature, theater and music, and His grandfather, Pere Gurguí, instilled in him a love for Catalan language and the flowers, themes that became very recurring in the writer's work. At just five years old, Rodoreda acted in her first theater production, an experience that marked her forever.
In her family home there was a bohemian air that inspired her to read classic Catalan authors, such as Jacinto Verdaguer, Ramon Llull, Joan Maragall, Sagarra and Josep Carner. However, after the death of her beloved grandfather, his uncle Juan Gurguí took the reins of the residence and made it more orderly and austere. After, In 1928, he and the author married, despite the age difference and their relationship.
After conceiving her first child, Rodoreda began to do literary tests to get rid of economic and social dependence What it meant to be a housewife. From then on, she considered writing as a craft, and dedicated herself to creating plays, poetry, stories, and novels. In addition, she worked as a journalist, teacher, political commentator, proofreader and translator.
Other books by Mercè Rodoreda
Narrative
- Are you an honest donut? - Am I an honest woman? (1932);
- From what man cannot escape — From what one cannot escape (1934);
- Un dia de la vida d'un home — A day in the life of a man (1934);
- Crim (1936);
- Aloma (1938);
- Vint-i-dos contes — Twenty-two stories (1958);
- Carrer de les Camèlies — The street of the Camellias (1966);
- Jardí vora el mar — Garden by the sea (1967);
- La meva Cristina and other stories — My Cristina and other stories (1967);
- Mirall trencat — Broken mirror (1974);
- Semblava de seda i altres contes — It seemed like silk and other stories (1978);
- Tots els contes — All the stories (1979);
- Viatges i flors — Travel and flowers (1980);
- How much, how much war... — How much, how much war... (1980);
- La mort i la Primavera — Death and Spring (1986);
- Isabel i Maria — Isabel and Maria (1991);
- Stories for children (2019)
Theater
- One day – One day (1959);
- The parc de les magnòlies — The magnolia park (1976);
- El torrent de les flors — The torrent of flowers (1993);
- Lady Florentina and her love Homer — Lady Florentina and her love Homer (1953);
- The mannequin (1979);
- L'hostal de les tres Camèlies — The hostel of the three Camelias (1973)