Genio y Figura by Juan Valera

Thanks to Lyx, I got my hands on the electronic version of "Genio y Figura", written by the Spanish author Juan Valera. The novel deals with the life and times of a lowly-born self-made Spanish woman, Rafaela, used as a set example of determinism that ultimately serves as an example of free will. It is XIX century novel, thus the literary style is naturalistic in origins. The theme, the life and times of Rafaela, seems to be in accord with naturalism arguing to determinism as the driving force behind daily life but, and I can be completely wrong, I get a romantic feeling on the treatment: Rafaela is a self-made woman, always conscious of her acts and always taking control of her life. Anyway, I leave this discussion for those with greater minds...

The novel is a great read. The narrative is filled with details without being cumbersome. It is a fast, page-turning work. While reading it I could almost hear Valera's voice telling the story that his friend the viscount told him.

If you do not want to go out during a weekend, or want to be lazy in a rainy day, or any other time when you feel like grabbing a book, get online, download this ebook and start turning pages.