Novel
Fog
Niebla
Miguel de Unamuno · 1914
Synopsis
Augusto Pérez, a rich young man with a law degree, the only son of a widowed mother, leads a regulated life among his housekeeper, his servant and his dog Orfeo. He falls in love with Eugenia, of whom he has at first glimpsed only the eyes, and frequents her uncles' house to court her, while also taking an interest in Rosario, who irons his linen. His conversations with his friend Víctor Goti, who talks of writing a “nivola”, lead him to question love, life and the meaning of existence, to the point of going to consult Miguel de Unamuno in person.
Context
Written in 1907, the book appeared only in 1914, from the publisher Renacimiento. To escape the rules of the novel, Unamuno has a character invent the word “nivola”, which has since designated this kind of narrative. The thirty-three chapters follow Augusto's love affairs up to his visit to the author, who declares himself his creator: the meeting takes up, between the writer and his creature, the relation of God to man. In France, the novel was translated in 1926 by Noémi Larthe, then in 1990 by Catherine Ballestero.
Who it is for
A short novel, made up largely of dialogue; the meeting between the character and his author is its heart.
Prizes and reception
Counted among the greatest novels in the Spanish language; well received from its publication and translated into about a dozen languages.