Nada Background

Nada is a classic Spanish literature novel written by Carmen Laforet. Laforet is a Spanish author known for her literary works depicting life during and after the Spanish Civil War. The novel was published in 1945.

The narrative is set in the Spanish city of Barcelona after the Spanish Civil War. It narrates the story of Andrea who has lost her parents. Fortunately, the Spanish government gave her a scholarship to study in a university. While there, she gets to know lots of friends but is particularly close to Ena. Ena is a rich girl who later offers Andrea to stay with her, and Ena's father guarantees Andrea a job. One other aspect of the story is Andrea's not-likable family. One of her family members turned out to be involved in some kind of gambling, while the other treats her badly. Also, Andrea's uncle, Roman, was tricked into a weird relationship with Ena who wanted to take revenge for the horrid treatments he showed to her mother.

Some critics argued the Nada is alluding to the actual life and childhood of Carmen Laforet. It was recently translated into English by Edith Grossman. Nevertheless, the book received world acclaimed and has earned a Spanish prize for literature. It was liked by many. On Goodreads, it earned a 3.8 out of a 5-star rating. The Guardian said in its book review that the book was "such an accomplished novel, so powerful in its story and so polished in its style". Fernanda Eberstadt from the New York Times wrote in her book review: "'Nada' depicts on the one hand the sordid collapse of a family whose fratricidal hatreds mirror those of the Civil War, and on the other hand the struggle of its youngest member for simple freedom. What gives the novel its unlikely freshness is the contrast between the melodramas to which Andrea is witness and the humorous restraint of her narration."