Life Embitters
by Josep Pla
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Pub Date May 05 2015 | Archive Date May 05 2015
Archipelago Books | Archipelago
Description
Advance Praise
"Josep Pla was a great noticer of things and places; his gaze was alert and dry; he wrote in a style which registered both the smallest detail and the large picture. His relationship to Catalan identity and Spanish history was complex, often ambiguous. His relationship, however, to the scene in front of him, or the days in which he lived, remains fascinating for its clarity, its sharpness, its originality and its wit. On display in his work is a glittering and sparkling sensibility." — Colm Tóibín
"Considered one of the most influential Catalan authors of the twentieth century, [Pla] was born and raised in the Empordà, and over the course of his life wrote over 30,000 pages of prose in which he diligently catalogued the landscape and the life and habits of the people of the region. His complete works, published and republished over the years, contain marvelous descriptive passages that capture the landscape's history and its complex topography at once." — Words Without Borders
"Life Embitters, probably the best book in Josep Pla's vast body of work, is a literary feast which combines all his best qualities at once: the sharpness of the journalist, the modern style of the novelist, and the insight and lucidity of the autobiographer. Through these stories, Pla distills the experiences of a young man traveling around a dramatically changing Europe. This is the book I recommend whenever someone asks me about Catalan literature." — Jordi Punti, translator and author of Lost Luggage
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9780914671138 |
| PRICE | $20.00 (USD) |
Featured Reviews
Elaine A, Reviewer
This book of short stories explores the type of world you can sense exists beyond the main body of a novel, but one that the novel does not have the time or space to linger over. The stories are intimate windows into the lives of a wide variety of people, with Europe as a canvas. The intricate interactions between each of the protagonists form the backbone of the many narratives. The dense description in each episode creates a real sense of immersion, which makes ‘Life Embitters’ the type book that begs to be delved into repeatedly, because with each read new details emerge. It is the details that make it possible for Pla to carry off understated humour within what might be a very serious subject such as death, or simply enjoy the extensive cast of sometimes extraordinary characters. It is also the details that will not only resonate with the reader but of which they will never tire. The book is also a fascinating insight into life in Europe in the early twentieth century.
Lucy B, Educator
I recveived this as a galley copy from the publisher. I will; admit that I am not traditionally a memoir fan; however this was lovely. I found it gripping and haunting. I forgot for a while that it was a memoir as it read like a wonderful novel. I would bitch it as a terrible fairytale, or more aptly a real fairtale. Well worth the read.
Andrija F, Educator
*Life Embitters* by Josep Pla is a novel that delves into the themes of disillusionment, aging, and the complexities of human experience. Set in early 20th-century Catalonia, the story follows the life of the protagonist as he navigates personal and social challenges. Pla’s writing offers a nuanced portrayal of the protagonist’s encounters with life's hardships and the gradual loss of idealism that accompanies growing older. Through a combination of keen observation and introspective reflection, Pla explores how the passage of time and the realities of life can lead to a sense of bitterness and resignation. The novel is noted for its rich, detailed narrative and its exploration of the existential aspects of human existence.
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