Twentieth-century Catalan literature presents an intriguing paradox as many significant works were created outside of Catalonia. Mercè Rodoreda, considered one of the most prominent Catalan writers of the last century, penned her renowned novel Garden by the Sea while in exile in Geneva, Switzerland, from 1959 to 1966 after the Spanish Civil War. Known for her love of flowers, the book’s title draws on a botanical metaphor that symbolizes her exile experience, hinting at both expulsion from a heavenly place and a yearning to establish roots. Garden by the Sea has finally been introduced to English readers through the skillful translation by Martha Tennent and Maruxa Relaño. Alongside The Time of the Doves and Death in Spring, this novel enriches Rodoreda’s collection available in English.
Garden by the Sea unfolds at a villa on the Catalan Mediterranean coast where a young couple and their group of glamorous friends spend six summers engaging in leisurely activities, narrated through the perspective and memories of the compassionate, unnamed Gardener who tends to the property. When a wealthy stranger, along with his daughter and enigmatic son-in-law, become neighbors, the two families realize their interconnected histories, leading to unforeseen and tragic outcomes. From the opening paragraphs, the Gardener foreshadows the impending tragedy, lamenting the consequences: “Such gaiety and youth, so much money … so much of everything … and two wrecked lives.” The novel’s initial joy is shadowed by the anticipation of the impending calamity.
At its essence, the novel explores perpetual unfulfilled desires, woven with gossip, betrayal, occasional clandestine activities, and unattainable yearning. The narrative is primarily constructed from indirect observations and partially filtered information, relayed through characters like the cook, maid, and other estate staff who interact with the affluent vacationers, gather insights, and share them with the Gardener. Rodoreda skillfully exposes class and labor disparities within the villa by revealing who has access to information and about whom. She creatively shifts the narrative perspective, revealing the story of the wealthy through the eyes of the working class.
The Gardener, a widower deeply devoted to his work, cares for his garden with parental tenderness, intertwining descriptions of his garden with the domestic drama. Although kind and subservient, he harbors frustrations towards the villa’s owners, which are only disclosed to the reader. Tasked with reconciling disputes and cleaning up after disasters, his role extends beyond the garden to mediating interpersonal conflicts for the affluent residents. Despite the floral imagery, the language remains austere, reflective, and well-translated. Rodoreda’s use of silence and subtle implications adds layers to the narrative, leaving much unspoken but understood.
Garden by the Sea captivates with its understated elegance, slowly revealing its intricacies like unfolding petals. The narrative’s subtle nuances and withheld details gradually paint a complete picture, creating a mesmerizing reading experience that may leave you breathless.
