The Dolls' Room
by Llorenç Villalonga
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A classic of contemporary Catalan literature, and a haunting and satirical portrait of a vanishing age, Lloren? Villalonga's "The Dolls' Room" concerns the decline of Don Toni and Dona Maria Ant'nia Bearn: aristocrats, cousins, husband and wife, and members of the decadent, age-old ruling class of a town that bears their name. Their story is told by the na've family priest, Don Joan, who was taken under Don Toni's wing as a schoolboy. Describing the shabby grandeur of his benefactors' lives show more in their ancient, rundown family mansion, their grand but ruinous excursions to Paris and Rome, and the mysterious events that lead to their deaths, the humbly devote Joan is continually challenged, and perhaps titillated, by Don Toni's impious personality, his defiance of church authority, and his scandalous affairs. Partly condemning and partly admiring his devilish mentor, the pure-minded Don Joan's lurid "biography" of the Bearns is a testament to the eternal attractiveness of the libertine, and the lengths to which we go in justifying our own worst impulses. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
8422615851
És lent, hi ha poca acció i costa una mica, però és un dels millors llibres que he llegit. El català de Villalonga és deliciós, acolorit i ric. La melanconia et domina des de les primeres pàgines i no et deixa fins al final. El seu món rural que s'ensorra em va recordar empàticament altres móns que també s'ensorren per sempre al nostre voltant
Jun 24, 2009Catalan
Un món que s'acaba, excel·lentment ben escrit, amb el català propi de Mallorca. Vist per un clergue que hi dona veu a personatges inoblidables de la nostra literatura. Don Toni, la senyora, dona Xima o el mateix don Joan Mayol resten melangiosament a les planes de Bearn.
Apr 18, 2014Catalan
Retrato melancólico de la decadencia de una familia aristocrática de Mallorca. Interesante retrato de la sociedad francesa del segundo imperio. Al final, aparece inopinadamente una trama de la masonería internacional.
Sep 29, 2019Spanish
Un bon llibre dels terra tinents mallorquins de finals del segle XIX i principis del XX. Cal certa cultural històrica de l'època.
Aug 27, 2015Catalan
Rescatada su lectura tras más de veinte años de la primera... y me ha vuelto a gustar mucho.
Apr 26, 2008Spanish
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Las cien mejores novelas del siglo XX en lengua española
117 works; 1 member
Canon de la narrativa universal del s. XX (cicutadry)
499 works; 3 members
Author Information
48+ Works 800 Members
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Dolls' Room
- Original title
- Bearn; o, La sala de les nines
- Alternate titles*
- Das Puppenkabinett des Senyor Bearn : ein mallorquinischer Familienroman
- Original publication date
- 1956
- Important places*
- Majorca, Spanje
- Epigraph*
- Mijn ogen kunnen alleen
nog maar verloren dagen
en zonnen aanschouwen...
Salvador Espriu
Cementiri de Sinera - First words*
- Beste vriend,
Ik weet niet of je, als je deze brief samen met het bijgevoegde manuscript ontvangt, het tragische nieuws al vernomen hebt: zowat twee maanden geleden overleden mijnheer en mevrouw tijdens de laatste carn... (show all)avalsnacht in nogal mysterieuze omstandigheden. - Last words*
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Na het landgoed van Bearn met zijn fascinerende en vreselijke geheimen te hebben prijsgegeven en na ook de geest van mijn weldoener, die hij ons met zijn werk heeft willen nalaten, te hebben begraven, zou mij nog de troost resten me op een dag te mogen verlaten op de opperste gerechtigheid van God.
- Original language*
- Catalaans
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
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- Members
- 348
- Popularity
- 90,371
- Reviews
- 14
- Rating
- (3.62)
- Languages
- 7 — Catalan, Dutch, English, French, German, Slovenian, Spanish
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 41
- ASINs
- 7
