Review of the book “Chulas y famosos” by Terenci Moix.
“Chulas y famosos” is a novel by the Spanish writer Terenci Moix, published in 1980. The work, which has been classified as a classic of gay literature and of the Spanish Transition, is a satirical and biting portrait of Spanish society in the 1970s, focusing on the world of show business and the media.
The novel tells the story of two friends, César and Narciso, who move in the most glamorous and superficial circles of Madrid society at the time. Through their adventures and misadventures, the author shows us the most frivolous and empty side of Spain in the 1970s, in which appearance and social success were the most valued values.
Moix uses his characteristic acid and ironic humour to ridicule the characters who populate the novel, from the disco girls to the television producers and the journalists of the gossip press. The work is a fierce criticism of the superficiality and consumerism of Spanish society at the time, as well as its homophobia and double standards.
“Chulas y famosos” is also a novel that openly addresses homosexuality, something that in Spain in the 1970s was still a taboo subject. Moix, who was openly gay, used the work to denounce the discrimination and repression that homosexual people suffered at that time. The characters of César and Narciso, who live their sexuality freely and without complexes, thus become a role model for a community that was beginning to come out of the closet.
Another theme that the novel deals with is friendship. The relationship between César and Narciso is one of the most interesting and complex in the work, and Moix uses it to talk about the importance of solidarity and mutual support in a world as hostile as the one it portrays.
As for the literary style, “Chulas y famosos” stands out for its direct and simple language, which makes it easy to read and makes the novel very enjoyable. In addition, Moix has a great talent for creating memorable characters and for describing situations and environments in a detailed and evocative way.
In short, “Chulas y famosos” is an essential novel to understand Spanish society in the 1970s and the evolution of the LGTBIQ+ movement. Terenci Moix manages to create a fun and satirical work, which at the same time is a scathing critique of the values and prejudices of the time. The novel is a defense of sexual freedom and friendship, and becomes a tribute to all those who fought for equality and justice in those years of Transition. Without a doubt, a work that is worth reading and vindicating.
Source: https://algunoslibrosbuenos.com/chulas-y-famosas
