A book a day: Katherine Anne Porter

Original Language: English

Translation (to Catalan): Albert Pla Nualart / Núria Guilayn Llinàs

Year of publication (volume): 1936, 1937 y 1939

Valoración: Advisable

The old mortal condition He tells Miranda’s transition (a kind of author’s alter ego) and her sister to adulthood. To do this, he takes advantage of the figure of an aunt who shunned everything that could family and social expectations. Despite the magnitude of its cast and the diversity of times and scenarios, this short novel knows how to make the most of all the material that composes it, and organically transmit a message.

In The VI of Migdiathe arrival of a Swedish as quiet as a laborious brings prosperity to a Texas farm for nine years, but also ends up triggering a tragedy. Although the approach to this short novel is very good, its execution does not take advantage of it too much, at least in my opinion. I also believe that fiction does not satisfactorily develop several of its ingredients (the relationship between Mr. Helton and the family that welcomes it is somewhat blurred, as well as the participation of the children of the Thompson).

The short novel that gives title to the whole recovers an already independent Miranda, whom we see to work as a journalist and meet a man with the First World War and the 1918 flu epidemic of the backdrop. The subtext of this short novel is very rich. In addition, the issues explored (antibelicism, love, etc …) are exposed expressively and delicately.

Little more to add: Pal·lid horse, pale pale It is an anthology composed of three very worthy short novels. Although two of them lack the roundness of the first, I recommend their reading, especially those who wish to meet that great American writer who was Porter.