Ramon Madaula recommends a novel that has left him "very touched."

BarcelonaFor some time now, the playwright and actor Ramon Madaula (Sabadell, 1962) dedicates part of his free time to re-encountering classics of Catalan literature. A few months ago he delved into The stab, Marian Vayreda's masterpiece, and it stirred emotions he hadn't expected. "I was deeply moved by how well this novel was written. What beautiful Catalan it is! I ended up crying," Madaula exclaimed.

Published in installments between 1903 and 1904, The stab is a rural drama starring Albert Bardals and his great enemy, Ivo. Among them is Coralí, whom they both desire. All of this takes place in the Alta Garrotxa, in a mountainous setting that acquires great relevance throughout the story. It was Vayreda's third novel, and he died in 1903, not having time to see or review the entire work. The stab It was published posthumously in a unified format and is a classic reference of Catalan realist literature.

"It's a fascinating novel due to its dramatic force, very well-developed characters, and extremely powerful descriptions of La Garrotxa," emphasizes Madaula, who adds that she was surprised by "the contrast between the romantic aspect and the harshness of some of the protagonists." She also highlights the use of language and claims its richness, typical of Vayreda and other writers. "You take The gold rush by Narcís Oller, or the Private life by José María de Sagarra, or the Gray notebook by Josep Pla and you stand still seeing how good they were. And I won't even mention Rodoreda, which is spectacular," the actor recalls.

Since its publication more than a century ago, The stab It has been available in bookstores through various editions. The latest is from Barcino publishing house, which relaunched it in 2021 as part of the collection Essentials.