The novel Palmira by Alberto Vázquez-Figueroa is a work that tells a story of selfless love, the story of two women whose lives intersect.
The story takes place in an exotic and mysterious context, between the Swiss Alps and Guatemala. The protagonist is Andrea, a Spanish woman who works as a model in Milan. During a trip to the Alps, she meets Palmira, a millionaire of Arab origin who is married and has three children.
From their first meeting, Andrea is attracted to his enormous black eyes and that distressing loneliness that always seems to surround her. From that moment on, Palmira’s invitations continue and Andrea doesn’t know if Palmira is in love with her or intends to propose a three-way relationship with her husband.
Palmira hides a secret that threatens to destroy their relationship. Palmira is an ambitious and greedy woman. She is willing to do anything to get what she wants, even if it means lying and betraying those she loves.
The novel is a balanced mix between an adventure novel and an intrigue novel. In general, readers have had mixed opinions about the work. Some have enjoyed the book for being short and easy to read. Others have criticized the plot for being predictable and unoriginal.
Written in a direct and concise style, it keeps the reader in suspense until the end. The action develops at a frenetic pace, with unexpected twists that maintain the intrigue until the last page, with complex characters, where the passionate relationship between the two women constitutes the main attraction of the novel, which in an exotic and mysterious context , creates an enveloping atmosphere that captures the reader, transporting them to distant worlds.
The author uses the third person, allowing him to offer a complete vision of the story, from the point of view of the different protagonists, using the description to give life to the characters and settings of the novel.
Palmira is a work that addresses important themes such as loneliness, betrayal and love in a context of luxury and glamor, the latter from a point of view that can be interpreted by the reader, but sincere and profound, which exposes the greatness of this feeling.
The plot is interesting and keeps the reader hooked until the end. However, some secondary characters could have been better developed to give more depth to the story.
Alberto Vázquez Figueroa is the author of more than one hundred titles and one of the most read contemporary authors in Spain and in the world. Born in the Canary Islands, he studied journalism in Madrid, and was a war correspondent in the avant-garde and on Spanish Television, documenting revolutions in countries such as Guatemala or Bolivia.
He published his first novel at the age of fourteen, and in 1970 he published his most famous novel, which has been translated into more than 30 languages, Tuareg, during his extensive career as a writer, has published essays, stories and travel books, his facet being more prolific the publication of books characterized by fast-paced rhythms and exotic settings.
He has received numerous awards, including the Nadal award in 1972, the Planeta award in 1980 and the National Literature award in 1988.
In summary, Palmira is a novel influenced by the personal experiences of its author, reflected in the description of the Guatemalan landscapes and culture, a novel that combines adventure and intrigue in a context of luxury and glamor, managing to convey an exciting story, mysterious and moving.
Although some readers may find it predictable or unoriginal, in my opinion it is an interesting work that addresses important themes such as loneliness and love.
