The women's barracks
The women's barracks is a contemporary historical novel written by the Spanish labor relations expert, historian, and writer Fermina Cañaveras. The work was published on January 10, 2024 by the publishing house Espasa, and has received great praise since its release, especially for giving a voice to the most vulnerable women in post-war society.
The novel, published in a context where historical memory and post-war stories still resonate strongly, offers a raw and emotional look at the consequences of war on the lives of those caught in its devastating aftermath. This allows for the revelation of those collateral conflicts that arose from a confrontation that no citizen asked for.
Synopsis of The women's barracks
The fate of women in war
The Women's Barracks It is a striking and deeply human work, which addresses the difficult living conditions and emotional struggles of a group of women imprisoned during the Spanish post-war periodAfter their arrest—due to their condition, resistance, ideals and level of danger facing the new society—they were forced into prostitution in the Ravensbrück concentration camp.
This is because the fascists never forgave them for rebelling against the ruling government, defending their shoulders, the party and that irrevocable idea of freedom that the communists promised. The most shocking thing de The women's barracks It's just that Fermina Cañaveras hasn't invented anything, but for years he collected the experiences of the victims and captured them in his book.
Death, the other beginning
The story of this novel It begins with Maria, a historian turned journalist who lives from bar to bar. After a long period of success documenting the forgotten stories of women, she begins to suffer a loss of spirit, passion and purpose, which, at the same time, leads her to become overly involved with drinking, a habit that is destroying her.
One hungover morning, her cell phone wakes her up, which won't stop ringing. At first, she kicks it and goes back to sleep, but the device keeps ringing more than fifteen times. Maria finally decides to check her calls, and realizes that is your mother. When he manages to contact her, the woman tells him that his grandmother has died, and that he must attend the funeral home to say his last goodbye to the lady who taught him everything.
Grandma's box
at the funeral, Maria, her mother, and her girlfriend, Carla, They see a woman white-haired woman sitting on a stool, far away from them. The old woman looks sad, head down. At the same time, The protagonist asks her mother who that unknown woman is, But her mother doesn't want to talk about it. Something in her reticence compels Maria to want to know, an instinct that had abandoned her.
To Maria's surprise, at the time of the readings of the condolences, The old woman introduces herself as Isadora, a relative of the grandmother. of the protagonist. This is how questions begin to arise that will not have an answer unless the investigator approaches the stranger and questions her about her identity, her relationship with the deceased and the reason for her estrangement all these years.
The story of Isadora and the women's barracks
This is how, after some obstacles, Isadora Ramírez García decides to tell her story to María. The story begins in 1939, when she, her mother, Carmen, and her aunt, Teresa, left Spain in search of her brother, Ignacio. At the same time, their tragedy is connected to the life of the protagonist's grandmother. Both their losses and the inhuman treatment they received are anchored.
However, their destinies were separated, and Isadora became one of the prostitutes at the Ravensbrück concentration camp., a place she describes as full of white doves and bridges. She also tells of her experiences in the barracks where the lives of thousands of women were attempted. These anecdotes reflect the pain of real people who, in their time, had no voice.
Historical and thematic context of The women's barracks
The poswar Spanish was a period marked by political repression, poverty and hopelessness, especially for those who had been defeated in the Civil War. Women, in particular, They faced a double burden: Not only did they have to deal with the loss of their loved ones and the destruction of their homes, but they also suffered the burden of a society that marginalized and punished them for their republican past or for having challenged traditional norms.
In this context, The Women's Barracks is set in a women's prison where the inmates live in miserable conditions, both physically and emotionally. Through stark and vivid prose, Fermina Cañaveras portrays life in the barracks, exploring themes of solidarity, resistance and desperation.
The book becomes a testimony to human resilience and the fighting spirit that, despite the most adverse circumstances, never completely fades away. This, in turn, inspires Maria, giving her back the vision of the world and the passion she had lost among failures and bottles of whiskey.
About the author
Fermina Cañaveras was born in 1977 in Torrenueva, Ciudad Real, in the autonomous community of Castilla La Mancha, Spain. She has two diplomas, one in Labor Relations and another in Tourism, both obtained thanks to the university of her home state. She also holds a degree in Geography and History from UNED.
For some years now, she has dedicated her life and career to research, especially in the area of women and repression during the conflicts of the 20th century. She has carried this out at the UNED Centre for Memory and Human Rights Studies. She also has a degree in Human Rights Studies. has collaborated with associations such as the Recovery of Historical Memory, FIDGAR Foundation or Aranzadi.