Resumo de A Winter In Majorca

A Winter in Majorca

It is unusual when on holidays to find literature of any kind that is even the slightest bit critical of the place it self. Yet on sale in Majorca is a book titled ?A Winter in Majorca by George Sand? Granted it is about life on the island during the Winter of 1838/39, yet it certainly paints a picture of a place where the people are unfriendly and living conditions that are to say the least primitive.

It was November, when George Sand, whose real name was Madame Aurore Dupin Baroness Dudevent a mother of two children and wife of the famous composer Frederick Chopin arrived by boat in the port of Palma.

He is 28, unwell, and along with his family is looking for an environment that would ease is sickness. She, already a prolific writer needed a quiet place to work on her novel Lelia, as well as starting one of her major works Spiridon which used as background the monasteries in Barcelona and Majorca.

The 90 days spent there were characterised by poor lodgings, poor doctors, and a local population, who to say the least were weary of them. It should be said that Frederick?s illness, which today would be diagnosed as bronchitis, caused much fear from the locals. As far as they were concerned he was suffering from tuberculosis, a contagious disease that would always prove fatal for those who contracted it.
In fact Fredrick Chopin?s health would never improve, and would see him die before reaching his fortieth year.

The book is unforgiving, and while the visitors were treated to some awful experiences, it must be noted that the underlying reality for George Sand was the continuous ill health of her husband, and the possibility which must have crossed her mind that he would never recover.

During his stay Chopin despite his illness managed to produce a decent body of work. This included The second ballad ? opus 38, in F, the Sherzo No 3 ? opus 39 in C sharp minor, the Mazurka ? opus 67 in A minor and The Preludes, of which no 15 ? in D flat, commonly known as ?The Raindrops? is the most famous.

She writes in detail about the rains, the cultivation of the soil, the breeding of cattle, and of course the pigs. She is severely critical of the local population and the manner in which they seem unable to use modern methods to make improvements. She called Majorca the Island of Monkeys a statement that angered the islanders, but also demonstrated her own bitterness towards them.
However the book is not all negative. Many passages describe in detail the beautiful landscape, the sea, and the mountains. A short book, just over 200 pages it is very much worth reading, especially during a holiday visit.
On the day of its publication the Majorcans were understandably incensed and extremely angry. So it is to their credit that they continue to publish the work. Infact I am not aware of its availability any where else, except perhaps on www.amazon.com.

Resumos Relacionados