Garden by the Sea
Garden by the Sea by Mercè Rodoreda, published by Open Letter in 2020, is now available in English for the first time. This novel, consisting of 203 pages, is set in 1920s Spain and unfolds over six summers at a seaside villa where a young couple and their affluent friends indulge in leisure activities. The narrative is observed through the eyes of the villa’s gardener, a widower who has tended the garden for decades, providing a unique perspective on the joys and eventual decline of these idyllic summers.
Readers will find a rich exploration of relationships and the passage of time as the story reveals the contrast between the carefree lives of the guests and the encroaching darkness symbolized by the construction of a larger villa next door. The themes of nostalgia and change are woven throughout the narrative, highlighting the psychological depth of the characters. This edition offers an opportunity to engage with Rodoreda’s literary style, known for its vivid descriptions and emotional resonance, making it a significant addition to her body of work.
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“Rodoreda has bedazzled me by the sensuality with which she reveals things within the atmosphere of her novels.”–Gabriel García Márquez
The novel that defined Mercè Rodoreda’s most prolific period is finally available in English for the first time. Set in 1920s Spain, Garden by the Sea takes place over six summers at a villa by the sea inhabited by a young couple and their beautiful, rich, joyous friends. They swim, drink, tease each other, and fully enjoy themselves. All the while, the guests are observed by the villa’s gardener, a widower who’s been tending the garden for several decades. As the true protagonist of the novel, we get to see the dissolution of these magical summers through his eyes, as a sense of darkness and ending creeps in, precipitated by the construction of a new, larger, more glamorous villa next door.
Considered by many to be one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century, Rodoreda has captivated readers for decades with her exacting descriptions of life–and nature–in post-war Spain, and this novel will further her reputation and fill in an important piece of her oeuvre.
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