Oller, Narcis / Escritor
Written in nine chapters separated into three blocks, NarcÃs OllerÂ’s The Madness is one of the first literary
pieces of work to aim to truly analyze the social and genetic causes and results of mental illness. Told
through the eyes of an anonymous “narrator” character, The Madness tells the story of a young revolutionary
called Daniel Serrallonga and his gradual deterioration into madness and delusion. Set against the backdrop
of the political crisis that ripped Spain apart in the mid to late 19th century and laid the foundations of the
Spanish Civil War, The Madness is a fascinating study of mental health within both rural and urban Catalan
society.
As relevant and entertaining now as it was when it was first published, this lively translation brings this fantastic piece of literature to new, modern audiences while drawing parallels with some of the 19th centuryÂ’s greatest
English language writers such as Charles Dickens and Thomas Hardy.
NarcÃs Oller (1846-1930) is widely considered to be one of the founding fathers of the Catalan literary renaissance. Through his use of realism and naturalism styles, he brought to life rural and urban Catalan life and
society from the 19th and 20th centuries, incorporating many of the sweeping political and social changes from
the time in his works.
His ability to create rich characters, beautiful landscapes and storylines that deal with the human psyche at its most expreme mean that he is still just as relevant as he was 100 years ago.
