
Argelagues
62 / Proa, September 2016
Translations
Spain/Consonni; France/Balzac
Press
«Ruiz is straightforward and direct, fluid and deft, straight-forward and natural in the way her plot unfolds, no-holds-barred when it comes to capturing the reader’s attention [...] and wise enough to tug on the heart strings with restraint, while never testing the reader’s patience.»
Ponç Puigdevall, El País
«Her care with language is seductive (…) She reveals the rawness of feelings with modesty and discretion, but, at the same time, knows how to present a situation or exceptional character in the most magnificent way.»
Jacinto Antón, El País
«An extraordinary debut novel, nearly perfect. The novel contains a very personal autobiographical element that runs deeply throughout the work and provides it with a strong feeling of fervour and genuineness (…) A living and breathing work, a moving, comitted, intense, deep and perfect novel.»
Sam Abrams, El Mundo
« The truth of history as it was lived in the flesh.»
Pere Gimferrer
« A monumental work. A feast of language, about a time when all things had a name.»
Xavier Antich
Synopsis
Argelagues portrays these women’s struggles to adapt in the aftermath of the textile revolution, the transition from life in the country to life in a city where industrialisation is in full swing and, above all, the changes felt in everyday family life. An homage to the efforts of so many women to adapt in the wake of the textile revolution and the harsh transition from rural life to an industrial world, a tale of war, fear, invisibility and a society in thrall to men. The historical backdrop illuminates a novel its author dedicates to “all those women whom fathers, brothers, men, bosses, the church and history have sought to silence”.
The events and voices speak for themselves, staking a claim for the pivotal role played by women in the ever-changing society of the 20th century.
An epic, stirring tale of three generation of women, as well as an homage that was long overdue.
** ENGLISH SAMPLE TRANSLATION AVAILABLE**
MB Authors
- Pepa AGUAR
- Pablo ARANDA
- Juan Luis ARSUAGA
- Manuel ASTUR
- Flavita BANANA
- Joan BARRIL
- Nuria BARRIOS
- María BASTARÓS
- Felipe BENÍTEZ REYES
- Joan-Daniel BEZSONOFF
- BLACKIE BOOKS
- Joana BONET
- Juan BONILLA
- Emilio BUESO
- Bibiana CANDIA
- Leonardo CANO
- Pablo CARBONELL
- Martín CASARIEGO
- Nicolás CASARIEGO
- Paula CIFUENTES
- Juan CUADRA
- Mario CUENCA SANDOVAL
- Malén DENÍS
- Elizabeth DUVAL
- Maria ESCALAS
- Cristina FALLARÁS
- Eneko FERNÁNDEZ
- Laura FERRERO
- Josep Maria FONALLERAS
- Albert FORNS CANAL
- Miguel GALLARDO
- Olivia GALLO
- Xenia GARCÍA
- Ignacio GARCÍA-VALIÑO
- José A. GARRIGA VELA
- David B. GIL
- Santi GIMÉNEZ
- Marcos GIRALT TORRENTE
- Enric GONZÁLEZ
- Ismael GRASA
- Javier GUTIÉRREZ
- Luci GUTIÉRREZ
- Najat El HACHMI
- Alicia KOPF
- Use LAHOZ
- Lucía LIJTMAER
- Shaina Joy MACHLUS
- Adrià MARQUÈS
- Ignacio MARTÍNEZ DE PISóN
- Ramon MAS
- Ana MERINO
- Luna MIGUEL
- Amarna MILLER
- Miquel OBIOLS
- Bruno ORO
- Miqui OTERO
- Anna PACHECO
- Vicenç PAGÈS JORDÀ
- Enric PARDO
- Concepción PEREA
- Juan Manuel DE PRADA
- Jordi PUNTÍ
- Llucia RAMIS
- Antonio J. RODRÍGUEZ
- Félix ROMEO
- Carmen ROMERO
- Xavier RUBERT DE VENTÓS
- Gemma RUIZ
- Juanjo SÁEZ
- Gabriel SALVADÓ
- Màrius SERRA
- Rubén SERRANO
- Ramon SOLSONA
- José Miguel TOMASENA
- David TRUEBA
- Juan VICO
- Enrique VILA-MATAS
- Rosario VILLAJOS
- Rolando VILLAZÓN
- Pedro ZARRALUKI