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Mort de dama

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Wikipedia article




'Mort de dama' (in Catalan: 'Death of a lady') is the first novel of the Majorcan writer Lloren Villalonga written in 1931. It is considered one of the first modern novels written in Catalan language from the Balearic Islands. It's a psychological and satirical novel, in which the author carries out a criticism of almost all social estates of that time, except for the Church. At that point, his criticism caused a great controversy among the readers, who made a negative review of the book. Villalonga himself dedicated it to all those who do not get angry.

Language



At the very beginning, one of the doubts that arise from reading the work is why the author chose the Catalan language instead of an other, like French or Spanish. Although Villalonga mocked those who used it and didn't have a great faith in the future of the language, it is worth noting that, before writing this novel, he had already written several works in Catalan. A possible answer to this question could be that he might have wanted to give the work more plasticity, in other words, he wanted to face the Majorcan society more easily.

Characters



The characters receive a caricaturesque treatment that styles them turning them into grotesque figures.

The most characteristic of them is the woman Obdlia, who is presented by means of a magnificent parody of herself and of the Majorcan aristocracy that she symbolizes. Nevertheless, the novelist can not hide an admiration movement towards the strong personality of the lady, that places her over the stupidity of the marquess of Collera and over the meanness of Remei Huguet or Mrs. Gradol, or even the astonishingly elegant Maria Antnia de Bearn.

Who inspired this character was Rosa Ribera Carbonell, an aunt of Villalonga who often came to the writer's parents home, and the rarities of whom annoyed the family.

Editions



Its first edition appeared in 1931, with a preface by Gabriel Alomar and signed as "Dhey", the pseudonym that the author usually used when he signed article in the Majorcan press.

This edition was immediately followed by the second. Important and numerous are the chapter that have been added to the original edition, as well as the modifications of the content. In the Spanish translation, by the author, published in the monthly magazine 'Brisas', that Villalonga directed and where he wrote to some extent, from the number XVIII (October 1935) to XXV (May 1936), the current tenth chapter was added 'Ravings of woman Obdlia'. The 3rd Catalan edition incorporated chapter III 'Thirty years ago'. The 2nd Spanish edition, by J. Vidal Alcover, published in the magazine 'Papeles de Son Armadans', volume IV, numbers 10 to 12 (from January to March) and volume V number 13 (April) of 1957, included for the first time chapter II 'The first moments', chapter X 'That 20th of January', chapter XIX 'That's how history is written' and chapter XXIII At Carme Street. Finally, the 4th Catalan edition (1965) and the complete works edition of 1963 premiered chapter XVIII, Aina Cohen visits woman Obdlia. All in all, from the first to the last edition, the work increases in seven the number of chapters.

Structure



The novel presents a vermicular structure and contains an introduction and 25 chapters, 18 of which are found in the original edition and the other 7 were added in ulterior editions. Some of them present flashbacks that bring face to face two phases of woman Obdulia's life. The chapters are the following:

* 'Introduction': A mild description of the neighbourhood is done, and then, the author tells what happens with an incipient tourism of antagonist customs with respect to the mentality of the old neighbourhood. Gabriel Alomar is mentioned as a "publicist with advanced ideals", who, at the end of the day, is a dissonance. At the end of the chapter, some other characters and their situation are presented, and the author insists again in the effect of foreign traditions- too forward-thinking for the depicted Majorca- have in the neighbourhood.

* 'I: Un retrat amb quatre dades genealgiques': ('A portrait with four genealogical data') it presents a review on woman Obdlia's ancestors, as well as the genealogy of her personality. It mentions what represents for the soul that society that vanishes.

* 'II: Els primers moments': ('The first moments') Woman Obdlia is already laying at the bed and Remei, her main assistant, activates the whole protocol that was followed whenever a person of her relevance died. In this chapter there are also remarkable characters that are introduced. The baroness de Bearn (niece of Obdlia), Mrs. Ramona Curt, Xim (or the boy who smoked 'abdullahs', personification of the author himself and nephew of the baroness), woman Maria Gradol with her two daughters and the director of 'El Adalid'. It is also mentioned the former husband of woman Obdlia, Ramon de Bearn and a woman, 'sa de Barcelona' (Violeta of Palma), of whom it is not well spoken. At the end of the chapter Aina Cohen is also mentioned, the poetess.

* 'III: Trenta anys enrere': ('Thirty years ago') in this chapter there is the first flashback, in which it is reported how woman Obdlia gets ready to go to the ball of "es Crculo" (the Circle). It is when it happens the famous scene of a misunderstanding that she had with the Archduke Llus Salvador, who, despite his multilingualism, doesn't appear to understand the hues in woman Obdlia's words.

* 'IV: En qu es parla del "cometa" i es fa la histria del vestit lil': ('In which it is told about the 'kite' and the history of the purple dress is done') It is about the goods of woman Obdlia (specially of those concerning fashion) and how trendy she was when she was young.

* 'V: Preparatius per a un viatge': ('Preparations for a journey') the visits of the doctors and the priest to woman Obdlia's are described, and how she denied to take any mediation and how she ripped medical prescriptions. As already mentioned, this is when Obdlia herself expresses her will to leave her heritage to Remei Huguet.

* 'VI: Segueix murmurant a l'antecambre': ('Keeps murmuring at the antechamber')

* 'VII: La indignaci i l'horror de la senyora Gradol': ('The indignation and horror of Mrs. Gradol')

* 'VIII: La mesocrcia de dona Obdlia i les notes de Miss Carlota Nell': ('The mesocracy of woman Obdlia and notes of Mrs. Carlota Nell')

* 'IX: Les tristeses d'Aina Cohen': ('Aina Cohen's griefs')

* 'X: Aquell vint de gener': ('That 20th of June')

* 'XI: La baronessa es confessa': ('The baroness confesses')

* 'XII: Depravaci de la colnia estrangera': ('Depravity of the foreign colony')

* 'XIII: Bbia': ('Bbia')

* 'XIV: Equilibris d'Aina Cohen': ('Aina Cohen's balances')

* 'XV: A l'Ateneo': ('At the Ateneo')

* 'XVI: Una biografia vista per dos costats': ('A biography seen by two sides')

* 'XVII: Enterraments': ('Funerals')

* 'XVIII: Aina Cohen va a veure dona Obdlia': ('Aina Cohen visits woman Obdlia')

* 'XIX: Aix s'escriu la histria': ('This is how history is written')

* 'XX: Desvarieigs de dona Obdlia': ('Ravings of woman Obdlia')

* 'XXI: La meva neboda Maria Antnia': ('The niece Maria Antnia')

* 'XXII: ... I la neboda Violesta de Palma': ('And the niece Violesta of Palma')

* 'XXIII: Al career del Carme' ('At Carme Street')

* 'XXIV: Fires i festes': ('Fairs and feasts')

* 'XXV: Guanya el dimoni': ('The devil wins')

Reception



The publication of the Villalonga's novel didn't go unnoticed for most Majorcan society. The work received hard reviews due to its sarcastic tone it had with them. From left to right, conservatives and progressives, those for and against the Catalan people and culture, they all hardly and viciously criticised the work by Villalonga. Even so, it seems that nobility, although it was mocked as well, it stayed impassive, maybe because they didn't read it or didn't hear about it.

An example of this negative reviews was the one done by members of the Escola Mallorquina, although it might be a bit contradictory. Despite these authors wanting there to be a Majorcan novel in Catalan to promote, they did not accept 'Mort de dama' as so, and they refused it for the virulent way it despised people.

Among the several review that Villalonga received, the one by the writer Miquel Ferr i Juan in an article in 'El Da' stands out. Ferr talks very negatively about both the characters and the dialogues and also about the irony used in the text, as well as the language and the model of serpentine realism. He even advises him to quit the culture of letters.

Nevertheless, intellectuals like Gabriel Alomar, Joaquim Verdaguer and Mrius Verdaguer had a positive impression on the work. In Catalonia, the work went almost unnoticed.

Notes



Bibliografia



* Francesc Llad i Rotger, La relaci entre Miquel Ferr (Alans) i Lloren Villalonga (Dhey), 'Randa', 34, pg. 79-88 (in Catalan).

* Josep M. Llompart, Prleg a 'Mort de Dama'. Palma: Editorial Moll (WBiblioteca Bsica de MallorcaW; 14), 2004, pgs. 7-30 (in Catalan).

* Pere Rossell; Marc Rosich i Rafel Duran de Dama: la novella i Mort de dama: l'adaptaci. Prlegs a l'adaptaci teatral de 'Mort de Dama'. Barcelona: Editorial Proa, 2009, pgs. 9-18 i 19-24 (in Catalan).

Category:1931 novels

Category:Catalan-language novels

Category:20th-century Spanish novels

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