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Pepita Jiménez
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Pepita Jiménez
Unavailable
Pepita Jiménez
Ebook207 pages3 hours

Pepita Jiménez

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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About this ebook

Juan Valera y Alcal-Galiano (Cabra, Crdoba, 1824-Madrid, 1905). Espaa.Poltico y diplomtico, fue un hombre culto y refinado, con numerosas aventuras amorosas y amistades literarias.
LanguageEspañol
PublisherLinkgua
Release dateJan 1, 2014
ISBN9788498979619

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Rating: 3.7692310256410257 out of 5 stars
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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Juan Valera (1824-1905) was a Spanish author of the realist tradition. His novel Pepita Jimenez was presented as a serial in 1874. The AmazonCrossing edition, translated by Katherine Illescas, is the first English translation in many years. It is popular internationally having been translated into many languages.The short novel reminds me of Gustav Flaubert’s novel, Madame Bovary with its realistic depiction of country life in the 19th Century. The gulf between wealth and poverty that Flaubert described in France is similar to that depicted in Spain by Valera. The story involves the son of a wealthy self-made landowner D. Pedro. D. Luis is a seminarian who has been studying for the priesthood since he was a child with his uncle the Reverend Dean of Cathedral in Madrid. D. Luis returns to his country home as a young man prior to completing the final steps to becoming a clergyman. A pious and intelligent but callow fellow, D. Luis acts out saintly manners in his father’s rural domain based on what he considers to be genuine soul-searching faith. At first, he is treated with respect by the inhabitants as a young aspirant to the priesthood of the Catholic Church. He is satisfied with this sentiment up to a point.D. Luis takes an interest in more secular activities available to a young country gentleman (such as learning to ride a horse) to the great delight of his rough and tumble father. D. Pedro is a persistent suitor of the reluctant wealthy young widow Pepita, and D. Luis has frequent social contact with his beautiful future stepmother.Soon, D. Luis experiences a battle of secular and religious motivation, a struggle of body and soul caused by his overwhelming attraction to the lovely Pepita. The tremendous internal battle is chronicled in his letters to his uncle in Madrid.This is an excellent story with an unexpected ending that readers will find as enjoyable as Flaubert’s novel. The book also is reminiscent of Theophile Gautier’s novel, Captain Fracasse in its wonderful details of the influence of wealth and poverty on the behavior and emotions of interesting characters. I will read more of Valera’s work in publications by AmazonCrossing.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Country town in Spain is the setting for this at times picturesque short novel. Pepita, Pepita...coquettish young wealth widow or self-deceiving schemer for the heart of Luisito, priest awaiting confirmation? Luisito, aspiring to greatness via the priesthood or naive young man making a hasty intellectual not truly spiritual decision? I enjoyed the initial chapters in the form of letters to his uncle who as a more experienced older man can read between the lines as the the real nature of Luis desire for the earthly existence, mundane or the higher calling of the catholic church during that time. The forbidding to marry of priest was tested by the waiting period before confirmation; Pepita presents a temporarily virtuous challenge that evolves into a battle of self-control for both she and Luis. This one kept me on the edge and I was glad I stuck with it to the end, which was surprising! Classic indeed. Romance, not explicit but present.