Nazarín
By renowned Spanish writer Benito Pérez GaldósTranslated by Robert S. Rudder and Gloria Chacón de Arjona
ISBN: 0-935480-75-7
Price: $16.00
Pages: 176
Benito Pérez Galdós challenges contemporary Christianity with the inspiring journeys of a modern-day savior, Father Nazario Zajarín or simply, Nazarín. An Arab-looking, Spanish, Roman Catholic priest, Nazarín leads a life of uncompromised humility. His bond with the Church is broken, however, when he rejects political dogma and adheres solely to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Through his pious example, Nazarín gathers a following of sinners whose contact with the priest turns them into faithful penitents. A saint or a lunatic? Nazarín, celebrating its centennial publication, offers a surprisingly fresh perspective on a very old story.
"One of Galdós's most daring challenges to his culture's
complacent morality, this teasing fiction never reveals whether
its Quixotean hero is a lunatic, or a visionary sustained by a
special state of grace. It's a wonderful novel and a perfect
introduction to the work of a major ninteenth-century writer."
--Kirkus Reviews
Benito Pérez Galdós (1843-1920) lived in Spain during the industrial revolution. Many of his works focus on the once mighty Spanish Empire, whose entrenched cultural traditions crumbled in the face of a rapidly changing world. As recently as 1959, Luis Buñel made a disturbing, surrealist film adaptation of Nazarín which was given high honors at the Cannes film festival.