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El Idilio de Un Enfermo
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112 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1884
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About the author
Armando Palacio Valdés
209 books4 followersArmando Francisco Bonifacio Palacio y Rodríguez Valdés (1853-1938) was a Spanish novelist and critic. Palacio Valdés was born at Entralgo in the province of Asturias on the October 4, 1853.
His first writings were printed in the Revista Europea. These were pungent essays, remarkable for independent judgment and refined humour, and found so much favor with the public that the young beginner was soon appointed editor of the Revista. The best of his critical work is collected in Los Oradores del Ateneo (1878), Los Novelistas españoles (1878), Nuevo viaje al Parnaso and La Literatura en 1881 (1882), this last being written in collaboration with Leopoldo Alas.
In 1881 he published a novel, El señorito Octavio, which shows an uncommon power of observation, and the optimistic promise of better things to come. In Marta y María (1883), a portrayal of the struggle between religious vocation and earthly passion, somewhat in the manner of Valera, Palacio Valdés achieved a very popular triumph which placed him in the first rank of contemporary Spanish novelists.
El idilio de un enfermo (1884), a most interesting fragment of autobiography, has scarcely met with the recognition which it deserves: perhaps because the pathos of the story is too unadorned. The publication of Peredas Sotileza is doubtless responsible for the conception of José (1885), in which Palacio Valdés gives a realistic picture of the manners and customs of seafaring folk, creates the two convincing characters whom he names José and Leonarda, and embellishes the whole with passages of animated description barely inferior to the finest penned by Pereda himself.
A collection of his short stories appeared in English translation in 1935.
His first writings were printed in the Revista Europea. These were pungent essays, remarkable for independent judgment and refined humour, and found so much favor with the public that the young beginner was soon appointed editor of the Revista. The best of his critical work is collected in Los Oradores del Ateneo (1878), Los Novelistas españoles (1878), Nuevo viaje al Parnaso and La Literatura en 1881 (1882), this last being written in collaboration with Leopoldo Alas.
In 1881 he published a novel, El señorito Octavio, which shows an uncommon power of observation, and the optimistic promise of better things to come. In Marta y María (1883), a portrayal of the struggle between religious vocation and earthly passion, somewhat in the manner of Valera, Palacio Valdés achieved a very popular triumph which placed him in the first rank of contemporary Spanish novelists.
El idilio de un enfermo (1884), a most interesting fragment of autobiography, has scarcely met with the recognition which it deserves: perhaps because the pathos of the story is too unadorned. The publication of Peredas Sotileza is doubtless responsible for the conception of José (1885), in which Palacio Valdés gives a realistic picture of the manners and customs of seafaring folk, creates the two convincing characters whom he names José and Leonarda, and embellishes the whole with passages of animated description barely inferior to the finest penned by Pereda himself.
A collection of his short stories appeared in English translation in 1935.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 25, 2022
He leído esta novela inmediatamente después de leer la relativamente (unos 15 años las separan) contemporánea "Aurora Roja" de Pío Baroja. Esta es una obra pequeña, tanto en su extensión como en sus pretensiones -un amor pastoril, un devaneo de verano en el verdor del solar asturiano-. Deseo poner esta última afirmación -la de las pretensiones- en su contexto, es decir, no soy un experto en literatura, tan solo un lector, y lo que escribo debe ser entendido con esta perspectiva.
En este tenor y después de esta lectura, me resulta más comprensible el hecho de que Palacio Valdés este relativamente olvidado. Esta novela, asi como "La hermana San Sulpicio", que resulta tener un contenido similar, son agradables de leer, especialmente, después de "Aurora Roja" o de "Camino de perfección" -esta última por fortuna no la termine-. Su estilo es relativamente cuidado, así como el lenguaje. Sin embargo no están sazonadas con reflexiones sobre Schopenhauer, y no son un cuadro de costumbres donde se exploran los ambientes anarquistas, en una especie de previsión de una posible sociedad futura.
Tras estas ultimas obras, se siente una sed de bonhomie indescriptible, en otras palabras, de leer las experiencias de un personaje que tan solo está enfermo, y no hastiado de la vida o minado por la miseria.
En ese contexto, esta novela me ha gustado. La historia describe el paseo vital del convaleciente en el sublime marco de la provincia asturiana. El descubrimiento de un amor imposible, impracticable debido a las diferencias de clase, de educación de procedencia geografia, pero tan dulce que no se puede renunciar a él. El ambiente provincial está agradablemente descrito, y el cuadro de costumbres razonablemente elaborado, para sazonar una trama sencilla.
Recomendable para todos aquellos que prefieran, como yo, a la adoración de Bakunin, el culto a la Venus Verticordia.
En este tenor y después de esta lectura, me resulta más comprensible el hecho de que Palacio Valdés este relativamente olvidado. Esta novela, asi como "La hermana San Sulpicio", que resulta tener un contenido similar, son agradables de leer, especialmente, después de "Aurora Roja" o de "Camino de perfección" -esta última por fortuna no la termine-. Su estilo es relativamente cuidado, así como el lenguaje. Sin embargo no están sazonadas con reflexiones sobre Schopenhauer, y no son un cuadro de costumbres donde se exploran los ambientes anarquistas, en una especie de previsión de una posible sociedad futura.
Tras estas ultimas obras, se siente una sed de bonhomie indescriptible, en otras palabras, de leer las experiencias de un personaje que tan solo está enfermo, y no hastiado de la vida o minado por la miseria.
En ese contexto, esta novela me ha gustado. La historia describe el paseo vital del convaleciente en el sublime marco de la provincia asturiana. El descubrimiento de un amor imposible, impracticable debido a las diferencias de clase, de educación de procedencia geografia, pero tan dulce que no se puede renunciar a él. El ambiente provincial está agradablemente descrito, y el cuadro de costumbres razonablemente elaborado, para sazonar una trama sencilla.
Recomendable para todos aquellos que prefieran, como yo, a la adoración de Bakunin, el culto a la Venus Verticordia.
December 2, 2019
This novel is a comment on the ills of the modern lifestyle (in 19th Century terms). An unhealthy young man leaves a frivolous city life to spend six months in the countryside and regain his health. The simplicity, charm and beautiful landscape give him back his strength. Most importantly, he meets a very strong-willed shepherdess with whom he becomes infatuated. The problem is that this shepherdess is also the object of another man’s more vicious desire. So we watch this girl’s strong will wrestling against both lust and love, against both vice and nobility. I think Palacio Valdés is showing that it is a weakness of will that is at the root of modern ills.
There is also a comment here on the absurdity of class distinctions since all the obstacles separating the two main characters would be removed instantly if they could just ignore those.
There is also a comment here on the absurdity of class distinctions since all the obstacles separating the two main characters would be removed instantly if they could just ignore those.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews