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Música de cámara
Arcadia returns to Barcelona in 1949, accompanied by her aunt Inés, a viola and a suitcase full of memories. As the daughter of Republicans living in exile in France, she takes refuge in her passion for music to help her survive the oppressive atmosphere of the post-war years. One day she meets Javier, a promising law student, who soon becomes the centre of her life. They are capable of facing up to everyone and everything just to keep their relationship alive, until Arcadia's independent, rebellious spirit becomes a social stigma that seals their fate. Música de cámera is the story of the love between two young people who belong to worlds that are not just different, but opposing. And it is also the story of how the two lovers meet again in the autumn of 1984, and the long night they spend in a disturbing but lucid reflection of the intervening years.
The panel was very enthusiastic about “Música de Cámara”. They all agree that it is a mature work of fiction which has great potential to work well in the UK. The novel has a strong plot line and Rosa Regàs is considered by our panellists to be one of the most talented authors in Spain currently.
Chamber Music tells the story of Arcadia, the daughter of Republican exiles brought up in France following the Nationalist victory in the Spanish Civil War, and her life and relationship with Javier, the son of wealthy, upper class supporters of Franco’s dictatorship.
Chamber Music is an eloquent and poignant account of the relationship between Arcadia and Javier and the struggles they face both individually and as a couple. Although Arcadia is the first and only recurring narrator, we also hear from Javier and other characters (…) The transition from narrator to narrator is smooth and the use of various voices allows Regàs to show us the novel’s cast from their own and other people’s perspectives, developing well-rounded and convincing protagonists whilst also leaving the reader with a strong sense of the personalities and agendas of the supporting characters.
This offers us a compelling insight into the mentality of different individuals and the social groups they represent under the regime. It also gives the novel a sense of balance (…)
Chamber Music is an engaging, enjoyable and thought-provoking read which, in my opinion, is likely to appeal to an English-language market. (From the reader report Isabelle Kaufeler)