Onofre Bouvila's Rise in Early 20th Century Barcelona

In Early Twentieth-Century Barcelona

This magnificent work by Barcelona writer Eduardo Mendoza allows us to discover life in the city of Barcelona during one of the most magical times in history, at the hands of a peculiar and somewhat eccentric character named Onofre Bouvila. The narrative is consistently interesting and lively, making the reading of this novel agile and rewarding, as it provides plenty of historical facts. However, we can say that they are sometimes confusing because they seem too mixed in with the fictional main character.

Onofre's Journey

It all begins when Onofre, as a child, is forced to leave his village because of the shame caused by his father. His father, a migrant to the Americas, failed, was ruined, and became the laughingstock of the upper class he tried to rub shoulders with upon returning to Catalonia. This boy's life is a continuous frenzy. His intelligence allows him to quickly rise in the Mafia society in which he moves, eventually becoming the richest man in Spain. Throughout his life, he struggles to achieve this sole aim of getting rich, and he does so regardless of the cost, plunged into total immorality, leaving behind dead, broken families, and abandoned friends. Yet, almost paradoxically, in the end, he leaves everything for the love of a woman.

Historical Context

The most relevant historical data narrated are:

• The first Universal Exhibition in Barcelona, located in what is today the Ciutadella Park.
• The Tragic Week in Barcelona.
• The last Universal Exposition held in Barcelona, conceived on the hill of Montjuic.

The author's knowledge of this great city allows him to place all actions in exceptional settings, making it especially pleasant reading. Any citizen of Barcelona can easily form a mental picture of the places described.

Writing Style

Finally, let's discuss how the book has been written. For those who know the work of Eduardo Mendoza, it is not necessary to make any comment, since the novel, like much of his work, has been written in the third person, using history as a common thread of a single main character, and we know practically all his feelings. In the same way, he has written "The Outrageous Island" or "The Mystery of the Haunted Crypt," two other great works by this author. The book has received an award, and although many people are of the opinion that this award was given essentially for the description of the city, I think it is worthy of it due to the genius of the work itself.