A work about the inquisitorial persecution in Majorca in the 17th century
The well-known writer and historical researcher, Bartomeu Mestre Sureda, known as ‘Balutxo’, has written an article in the magazine of Ideas, Culture and Art, Ploma.cat, in which he gives us a critique of the book ‘Liorna’ by Ariel Mountain range. It is a novel that narrates the inquisitorial process that a Mallorcan family suffered at the end of the 17th century. Na Caterina, her brother Felet and her teacher Rafel face repression and intolerance with courage and love, under the protective gaze of the personified island.
A detailed and complimentary analysis of Ariel Serra’s book
In his article, Balutxo gives us a historical introduction to the events related in the novel and then offers us a very positive assessment of Ariel Serra’s work. Balutxo says that “Faced with this tragic episode, Ariel Serra (Cadaquès 1959) has created “a magnificent novel in every sense” (Nicole d’Amonvill), “a demonstration of love for the Catalan language” (Albert Rossich), “a firm book of human and literary thickness” (Carles Duarte), “a story that should be compulsory learning” (Rosa Planas). The work is composed of two parts, each of five chapters titled with a name. The 410 pages are read with ease and pleasure thanks to a clean and pleasant language, forged with admirable mastery and the use of a very rich vocabulary. The cover of the book, very evocative and suggestive, shows us the bay of Palma, with a three-sail boat in front of the Cathedral and the Bellver Castle and, in the background, the Sierra traversed in fog by the three main figures: the Rafel brothers and Caterina Tarongí, she with a white hood, and Rafel Valls, with the red hat, still present in Ibiza and other territories of the Catalan nation”.
