The heretic

The heretic is the latest novel by the famous Valladolid writer Miguel Delibes. It was published in Spain in 1998 by Ediciones Destino. It is a narrative of the historical genre that reflects the unfortunate events that occurred during the "hunt for the Lutherans" in the lands of Cervantes in the 1999th century. This book is considered one of the most complete works of the author, which allowed him to win the National Narrative Prize in XNUMX.

Miguel Delibes had a prolific literary career, standing out as one of the most important novelists of the Spanish postwar period. Its extensive repertoire holds more than 60 works, which include novels, short stories, essays, travel and hunting books. His success is reflected in his twenty awards and recognitions, as well as in the adaptations of his works to film, theater and television.

Summary of The heretic

Salcedo family

The Salcedes, Don Bernardo and his wife CatalinaThey are a couple of good social position, thanks to their business with woolen fabrics. For almost eight years have tried to engender - without success- to the heir of his property and wealth. By recommendations of acquaintances, they go to doctor Almenara, who, for a long time, helps them with various fertilization techniques.

Longed for pregnancy

Despite carrying out various procedures, doña Catalina could not get pregnant, so he decided to give up on the idea. Shortly after, when hopes were lost, the lady was on tape. Don Bernardo was very happy with the news, since they were finally blessed with a son.

A terrible event

On October 30, 1517, Dona Catherine conceived a healthy child whom they baptized as Cipriano. However, despite the joys produced by the arrival, not everything was happiness. At the time of giving birth, the woman presented complications that the doctors could not remedy, and within a few days died. Mrs. Salcedo was buried with honor and magnificence, as it concerned a person of her social class and distinction.

Rejection

Don Bernardo was devastated after the death of his wife and rejected the baby for considering him guilty of what happened. Despite this, the man must have take care of look for a nurse for Cipriano. That is how hires minervine, a 15-year-old girl who had suffered the loss of her baby, so she was able to breastfeed the little one without problem.

Sent to an orphanage

minervine she was babysitting the boy for years, took care of him and gave him the love of a mother that I needed. Since I was little, Cipriano was sweet and insightful, negative qualities for Don Bernardo, who sought to inhibit him. His father made no effort to love him and over time that hatred was reciprocated. This caused this man internalize it —As a mode of punishment— in an orphanage.

Difficult time

Cipriano's stay in the hostel it was difficult, there had to deal with misery in addition to mistreatment. However, in that place he was educated and obtained varied knowledge. In those years, he heard about the first Protestant currents about Catholicism in Europe. He also collaborated with his companions to care for the sick of the plague that devastated Castile, which left thousands of deaths.

Orphan and heir

The terrible epidemic touched Cipriano closely, Ya que lost his father at the hands of the plague. After the death of Don Bernardo, the young man, now an orphan, is the only inherited of his family's properties. Soon, he took over the business and came up with good ideas that made it more prosperous. His new creation - leather-lined jackets - was very popular with the population and increased sales.

Big changes

The life of Cyprian improved considerably, including found love beside Teo, a beautiful woman with whom he married. Together with her, he had good times. However, happiness gradually faded, since the couple could not have children. Teo became so obsessed that ended up unbalanced mentally y was admitted to an institution where finally died.

Unexpected and cruel end

This changed Cipriano's life —A very religious man — because he blamed himself for what happened and imposed a penance for the rest of his days. Since then, began meeting with underground Lutheran groups, which acted with great discretion to survive the Holy Inquisition.

His reality was transformed when Felipe II —Catholic faithful— he replaced his father in ethe throne, Well this ordered to end all heretics existing in the kingdom. The chase was relentless; a terrible fate awaited the Protestants of the time who were captured and did not deny their faith. Those who retracted managed to survive. However, Cyprian refused to give up his dogma, and held fast to his beliefs until the end.

Basic data of the work

The Heretic is a novel set in Valladolid, Spain, during the XNUMXth century, during the reign of Carlos V. The book It is developed in 424 pages with three main parts subdivided into 17 chapters in total. The plot is described by an omniscient third-person narrator, who recounts the life of the protagonist, Cipriano Salcedo.

Biographical summary of the author, Miguel Delibes

Miguel Delibes Setien He was born on October 17, 1920 in the Spanish city of Valladolid. His parents were María Setién and Professor Adolfo Delibes. He studied primary school at the Colegio de las Carmelitas in his hometown. At the age of 16 he completed his baccalaureate at the School of Lourdes. Two years later —After the start of the civil war in Spain—, voluntarily joined the Army Navy.

In 1939,, after the end of the armed conflict, He returned to Valladolid and began studying at the Institute of Commerce. Upon completing his degree, he enrolled in the School of Arts and Crafts to study Law. At the same time, he worked as a cartoonist and film critic for the newspaper The North of Castilla. In 1942, he was titled as Mercantile Intendant in the center of Altos Estudios Mercantiles de Bilbao.

Literary race

He started in the literary world on the right foot thanks to his work The shade of the cypress is elongated (1948) novel for which he received the Nadal award. Two years later, he published Even it is day (1949), a work that made him suffer censorship by the Francoists. Despite this, the writer did not stop. After his third book, The road (1950), presented works annually, including novels, stories, essays and travel logs.

Since February 1973 —and until the day of his death—, Delibes occupied the chair "e" of the Royal Academy Spanish. In his extensive career as a writer, he received important awards for his works, as well as titles Honorary in different universities. They stand out from them:

• Prince of Asturias Award for Literature (1982)
• Doctor honoris causa from the Complutense University of Madrid (1987)
• National Prize for Spanish Letters (1991)
• Miguel de Cervantes Award (1993)
• Gold Medal of Castilla y León (2009)

Personal life and death

Miguel Delibes placeholder image He married Ángeles de Castro on April 23, 1946, with whom had seven children: Miguel, Ángeles, Germán, Elisa, Juan Domingo, Adolfo and Camino. In 1974, the death of his wife marked a before and after in his life, which is why he slowed down the pace of his publications. The 12 March 2010, after suffering for a long time from cancer, died at his residence en Valladolid.

As of 2007, for the author's 87th birthday, the publishing houses Destino and Círculo de Lectores published seven books that compile his works. These are:

• The novelist, I (2007)
• Souvenirs and travel (2007)
• The novelist, II (2008)
• The novelist, III (2008)
• The novelist, IV (2009)
• The hunter (2009)
• Journalist. The essayist (2010)

Author's novels

• The shade of the cypress is elongated (1948)
• Even it is day (1949)
• The road (1950)
• My idolized son Sisi (1953)
• Hunter's Diary (1955)
• Diary of an emigrant (1958)
• The red leaf (1959)
• The rats (1962)
• Five hours with Mario (1966)
• Parable of the castaway (1969)
• The dethroned prince (1973)
• The wars of our ancestors (1975)
• The disputed vote of Senor Cayo (1978)
• The holy innocents (1981)
• Love letters from a voluptuous sexagenarian (1983)
• The treasure (1985)
• Hero wood (1987)
• Lady in red on gray background (1991)
• Diary of a retiree (1995)
• The heretic (1998)