Review of the book “Nada” by Carmen Laforet.
(Five Decades Collection, by Cátedra Editions)
New hardcover edition of the book “Nada” by Carmen Laforet.
«Nada» is the first and most famous novel by the Spanish writer Carmen Laforet, published in 1945 and winner of the Nadal Prize in 1944. The work is set in the historical context of the Spanish postwar period, after the Civil War (1936-1939) and in the midst of the dictatorship of Francisco Franco. The novel is considered a classic of Spanish literature and has been the subject of numerous studies and analyses.
The plot follows the story of Andrea, a young orphan who moves to Barcelona to study Literature at university. Upon arriving at her grandmother’s house, she finds herself in a tense and violent environment, inhabited by strange and fascinating characters. The novel reflects the sad reality of post-war Spain, marked by moral and material misery. Through Andrea’s perspective, Laforet presents a dark and oppressive world, alleviated in part by her university friends, who belong to a bohemian and relaxed environment.
“Nada” is characterized by its existentialist narrative style, which moves away from the optimistic conventions of the bildungsroman genre. The protagonist, Andrea, faces various challenges in her process of self-discovery, such as etiquette lessons from her aunt Angustias and the possibility of a romantic relationship with Pons. Throughout the novel, Andrea also experiences the contrast between the sordid reality of her family and the luminous friendship with her university classmate, Ena.
Laforet’s prose is praiseworthy for its ability to immerse the reader in Andrea’s life and her family environment. The novel also contains autobiographical elements, as the author drew on her own experiences to create the character of Andrea. In addition, “Nada” addresses themes such as social inequality, revenge, and the search for identity in a difficult historical and social context.
In short, Carmen Laforet’s “Nada” is an essential novel of Spanish literature, which stands out for its existentialist style and its raw portrait of the Spanish post-war period. Through Andrea’s story, the author offers a heartbreaking and moving vision of the struggle for survival and authenticity in a world full of adversities.
Source: https://algunoslibrosbuenos.com/nada-de-carmen-laforet
