During a stop in Murcia, a traveler found themselves unexpectedly drawn to the works of a classical Spanish writer. A small bookshop beside the La Merced campus, a place the visitor always passes, provided a chance to pick up a few Azorín titles they had not revisited in years. The moment felt oddly contemporary, despite the author’s long history. In marking the 150th anniversary of the writer’s birth, a brief program on the cultural channel La 2 offered a reminder of a past voice that continues to spark curiosity. The decision was made to journey back to a writer whose reputation rests not on novelty but on proven quality and broad recognition, a figure who remains relevant beyond mere nostalgia. The pursuit is not tied to a single moment but to a broader Spanish literary tradition associated with the 98 generation.
That week unfolded through different corners of Spain, seen through the eyes of a master storyteller in the book Los Pueblos, originally published in 1905 and reissued by Alianza Editorial in 2011. The work comprises 23 newspaper articles born from two distinct periods: eighteen pieces published in Spain in 1904 under the title Los pueblos, and five later articles that appeared under La Andalucía tragica in El Imparcial in 1905. The collection confirms the observational and analytical approach characteristic of the author’s journalistic and literary career. Reading offers a sense of the lectures given by Miguel Ángel Lozano during the privilege of the journey.
In the realm of journalism, the author is described as petty bourgeois yet bold, cheerful, and fatherly, while also portrayed as a small philosopher who accepts the secret and implacable designs of things. This nuanced self-portrait reveals how Spain is perceived from Madrid’s perspective, with a tension between the capital and the rest of the country. Los Pueblos becomes a trek across Spanish geography, where the writer focuses on aspects and people that may seem modest but are, in truth, central to understanding daily life. For instance, if the author had recorded Eldense’s recent dramatic victory and their ascent to the second division, the narrative would likely not dwell on goals or penalties. Instead, it would emphasize a father and son wearing the club’s jersey and scarf on a hot June day, or a whole family celebrating with a scoop of ice cream and broad smiles after a local triumph. In this way, the work captures the real experiences of ordinary people and the historical moments that matter most to storytelling. The pieces on bullfighting and the region of Sarrió further illustrate how time and memory shape lives, a recurring theme that resonates with modern readers amid today’s fast pace.
Through it all, the historian is accompanied by the writer. The essence of the author’s prose shines whether describing Santander or painting a portrait of Castelar, a figure beloved in the hometown, or critiquing the hunger of rural areas and the struggles of workers. The prose remains accessible, free of pretension, and reflects a constant impulse to question. It is a style that invites readers to step closer, listen, and reflect, rather than to admire at a distance.
Why read this book now? Because it returns to clear expression, precise syntax, and accurate word choice. Readers can expect to strengthen their own reading comprehension, to engage with the quiet beauty of the text, and to have a sensory encounter with life poured onto the pages. The approach invites readers to see, hear, touch, and even taste the life described, making the act of reading a defining cultural experience: a moment when one might declare, I read this writer. There are two more books queued for the reader this summer, already opened and waiting to be explored.