The Hairdresser of the Blue Division is a story that narrates the survival of a simple man who is immersed, unintentionally, in some of the most relevant events of the Spanish and European XNUMXth century. Jose Ignacio Cordero, with a clear and deep prose, full of nuances and genius, he gets into the voice of an elderly man who tells his life from where he can remember. It is an agile and easy-to-read book, with it has deluded me from the first page.
When since Altera editions They were kind enough to send me a copy of this novel, I never thought I would come across a book like this. It had been a long time since a story caught up with me like this. I have enjoyed reading this immersive, masterfully presented and ingeniously composed story like never before. Boasting an exquisite literary and musical culture, as well as a deep knowledge of history and people, Cordero portrays an Extremadura punished by misery and a Spain subjected to the rigors of war, and not only for what the lack of financial means is concerned.
Anthony, the protagonist, tells his story with retrospective look. The story begins in the decade of the 20 years, in a small Extremaduran town. He is the oldest of four siblings. His family is short of money, but that house is missing much more. Forced to work collecting and selling firewood because their father does not have a job, Antonio and his brothers live a childhood with many economic and emotional deficiencies.
Antonio, a quiet boy with no studies, and with no job or benefit, as they say, has just apprenticed at a men's hairdresser. Here we begin to understand the true nuance of the title, since, at that time, it was normal for men's hairdressers to be called barbers. Don Melquiades will become one of the most important characters in Antonio's life, and not only because he taught him to cut his hair, a job that will not be relevant in the Blue Division. However, what he will learn with this man, beyond giving the good snips, that will be important until the end of the story.
We know from the title that this is a historical fiction novel. Therefore, we know from the beginning in what general framework the events are going to unfold. This tension, that thinking "what will happen when ..." and, in this case, "on which side will he play", are some of the questions that inevitably arise. We know that the Civil War will break out when Antonio is of fighting age. We also know that he will end up as a divisive in the fight against communism in Russia. And we know that he comes back to tell it, since he is telling the story, as we have said, recalling past events. That tension gives it a special drama.
But greater drama gives this story a law motive that Antonio drags in his dreams, interspersed like dream motifs that, without warning, surprise us throughout the novel. That law motive it is snow. At first it surprises, because it is not that it snows much in Extremadura, but as dreams repeat themselves, they carry the story with meaning, despite how absurd the situations seem. All these dreams lead to something and, as that something becomes a thing of the past and the protagonist overcomes it, the snow disappears. The magic that this storyline creates in the story is really fascinating.
Antonio's silence is one of his most outstanding attributes. A silence that will be the protagonist in many decisive moments and on which some of the most important situations in history will depend.
I was surprised by the way in which José Ignacio Cordero links and solves absolutely all the elements that appear in the plot. Nothing is left to chance, no characters, no phrases, no facts, no phrases; even if they are trivial, they always have an ending or a meaning. In these resolutions we find from the most intelligent irony to the finest sarcasm. Even with humor, Cordero is capable of solving some of the hardest scenes in history, and without ever missing the essence of his characters. And it doesn't leave any loose ends. Every character that appears has a story, and all these stories are resolved.
This is the story of a hero who does not feel like a hero, who simply survived as best he could, who first fought where he touched and then where he believed he could redeem himself and, incidentally, change his life. It also shows the point of view of a boy who does not fight for an ideology, but because it is his turn, because it is to fight or die. Like so many others, he does not understand war, but he has no other way out. And when he is at the front voluntarily, he discovers that this is very different from what he had imagined, that he does not know very well who the "bad guy" really is. Cordero shows heroism as a way of suggesting to young people, as a placebo to console parents and widows, as a reward to justify the unjustifiable.
Sadness is not bad, it is simply frowned upon
This is the idea that I take with me from this book, the one that has struck me the most. Because this is a sad story, very sad. This is one of the things that Don Melquiades, an educated man, despite his office, will tell Antonio on some occasion, and that he will remember in due course.
But this story also shows us that sadness is not incompatible with hope and that, despite the mistakes made, the misery carried away, the accumulated pain, the opportunity can always arise to do something that, perhaps one day, will make you feel better. provide the opportunity to offer others that happiness you did not have and find in it a haven of peace and pride.
And in the midst of everything, the value of silence, introspection and reflection.
Hello, I would like to know if the hairdresser of the blue division is in pdf.
Thank you very much Eva for the compliments you give me, I hope I am worthy of them and, above all, for your accurate appreciation of the essence of the novel.
JIC