The Carpenter's Pencil

Manuel Rivas

Editions

Review

Although a bit confusing at first, this is a marvellous novel.  Singlehandedly it puts Galician literature on the world map (it is well translated).  It tells the story of  Doctor Daniel de Barca, who is imprisoned in 1936 for his Republican sympathies, and his love affair with the beautiful Marisa Mallo.  The narrative eye is that of Herbal, his stupid and brutal guard for much of his imprisonment – from the perspective of many years later, when de Barca returns from exile in Cuba and Herbal is sweeping in a brothel.  Throughout, Herbal’s voice is augmented by an that of an artist whom he shot in the head, who haunts him.  While in prison, the artist sketched the cathedral porch on a wall using a carpenter’s pencil.  Although short, the book is rich with emotional and political texture.  Definitely worth reading. - review by John de Falbe