Review: Maquis by Alfons Cervera

Review of the book “Maquis” by Alfons Cervera.

“Maquis” is a historical novel by Spanish writer Alfons Cervera that takes us through the history of a group of maquis, anti-fascist guerrillas who fought in the Spanish mountains during the post-war years. With evocative prose and a deep knowledge of history, Cervera takes us to a dangerous world full of uncertainty.

In this post I would like to talk to you about a book that has had a profound impact on me: Maquis, by Alfons Cervera. It is a novel that tells the story of a group of anti-Franco guerrillas who resisted in the mountains of Los Serranos, a Valencian region, during the 1940s. The author relies on his own family memory and the testimonies of the survivors to recreate a world of pain, silence, fear and death, but also of dignity, solidarity and hope.

Maquis is the second novel in a trilogy that began with The Color of Twilight (1995) and culminated with The Motionless Night (1999). In it, Cervera presents us with characters who fight for their ideals and their freedom in a hostile and repressive context. The protagonist is the narrator, a young teacher who joins the guerrilla after the murder of his father by the Falangists. Through his eyes, we learn about the daily life of the maquis, their relationships, their conflicts, their dreams and their nightmares. We also know the reality of nearby towns, where the civilian population lives under the terror of the regime and the constant threat of denunciations and reprisals.

The novel is written in a sober and direct style, which does not renounce beauty or emotion. The author uses colloquial and popular language, sprinkled with expressions typical of the area, which gives authenticity and verisimilitude to the story. The structure is fragmentary and non-linear, alternating scenes from the present and the past, thus creating a living, breathing memory effect. The tone is realistic and critical, but also poetic and human, showing the darkest and brightest sides of the human condition.

Maquis is an essential novel to learn about a part of our history that has been silenced and forgotten for too long. It is a tribute to the men and women who risked their lives to defend their ideals and dignity in the face of Franco’s barbarism. It is also an invitation to reflect on the value of memory, justice and democracy in our present. I recommend that you read this masterpiece by Alfons Cervera, one of the great narrators of current Spanish literature.

The novel begins with the story of Luis, a young idealist who joins the resistance to fight against the Franco regime. As the story progresses, we meet the members of Luis’s maquis group, each with his own story and motivations. From the life of a rural teacher to that of an intellectual, including that of a young man forcibly recruited into Franco’s army, Cervera presents us with complex and well-defined characters that make the plot even more fascinating.

What I liked most about this novel is the way in which Cervera takes us to the daily life of the guerrillas. The author shows us the moments of rest and camaraderie, as well as the dangerous confrontations with Franco’s army. The way Cervera describes battles and tense moments is incredibly realistic and vivid, making it easy to feel the danger and uncertainty that the characters must have felt in real life.

Another strong point of this novel is the way in which Cervera presents us with the historical context in which the story develops. Post-war Spain was a time of great uncertainty and danger, and Cervera does an impressive job of showing us how the civil war and the repression of the Franco regime affected people’s daily lives. Furthermore, the author shows us how the maquis struggle was part of a broader anti-fascist movement in Europe, which makes the story even more interesting.

In summary, “Maquis” is a fascinating historical novel that takes us through the life of a group of anti-fascist guerrillas in the Spanish mountains. Cervera’s evocative and realistic prose, as well as his deep knowledge of history, make the story even more fascinating. If you are interested in post-war Spanish history or the anti-fascist struggle in Europe, I definitely recommend this book.