A journey through exile and love
Mercè Rodoreda’s exile during World War II was a period marked by difficulty and reflection. In a 1973 interview with Montserrat Roig, Rodoreda shared her long absence from writing, a time she dedicated to survival, stating that writing in Catalan far from her homeland was like wishing flowers would grow in a desert. This feeling of exile and her relationship with Armand Obiols has captured the interest of many contemporary authors.
Eva Comas-Arnal and her revealing novel
Eva Comas-Arnal’s recent work, ‘Mercè i Joan’, explores the relationship between Rodoreda and Obiols through a fictional narrative that emerges from deep research. The idea was born while Comas-Arnal was working at the Biblioteca de Catalunya, immersed in documents that revealed intimate details of Rodoreda’s life. Through the novel, the author seeks not only to recreate facts, but also to expand the understanding of the character.
A scene full of history
The château of Roissy-en-Brie becomes the backdrop for a love story that includes prominent figures of exiled Catalan literature. Comas-Arnal presents a young and passionate Rodoreda, who falls in love with Obiols, a man full of contradictions. The novel is nourished by a rich atmosphere where love and literature mix, while reflecting the devastating effects of war.
The complexity of truth and fiction
The book is not limited to being a romantic melodrama; it addresses deep themes such as exile and its consequences. Comas-Arnal, with prose that evokes Rodoreda’s language, makes us aware of the gaps in history and the impossibility of capturing the whole truth. The novel is presented as a game between reality and fiction, a space where Rodoreda’s feelings come to life in a way that she herself did not want to express.
A mosaic of voices and perspectives
Readers seeking to tap into the richness of Rodoreda and Obiols’ lives can explore other recent works. Titles such as ‘Ells no saben res’ and ‘Armand Obiols, d’una fredor que crema’ offer a broader perspective on their lives and the historical context in which they lived. The figure of Anna Murià also emerges as a key in this literary puzzle, bringing a new dimension to the understanding of Rodoreda.
Reflections on literary heritage
The story of ‘Mercè i Joan’ goes beyond the simple recreation of events; it is an attempt to give voice to a narrative that Rodoreda chose not to write. With each page, Comas-Arnal reminds us that human experiences are multiple and complex, and that each look at history can enrich our understanding of the past. Rodoreda’s work, with all its contradictions and nuances, remains a legacy that deserves to be explored in all its depth.
