Benissanet, Ribera d'Ebre. Photo by Angela Llop (Flickr).
Let this serve as a warning that when you’re done reading this article, surely you’ll feel like taking a trip to one of the most stunning comarques (counties) of Catalunya: la Ribera d’Ebre. From there hails a writer who suffered for his infinite talent, yet possessed little desire for power, especially in the final stages of his life.
Artur Bladé
Like many writers, Artur Bladé kept a diary in which he wrote down everything that happened in his life, everything he could remember: the anecdotes, the experiences, his childhood, the most scenic parts of his country… and the not-so-scenic, too. In addition, Bladé had the brilliant idea to go back and reorder these thoughts into books, which he did in such an intelligent way that it does not go unnoticed by readers. (Awakened by such passion, Bladé’s followers are nicknamed bladerians.)
Bladé wrote more than 20 volumes in total, all of which are collected in one single edition (Corsetania). Yet there are three that stand out, three that mark the Catalan writer’s personality and create a distinguished profile of his character. I’ll highlight them in chronological order of his lifetime (not to be confused with the order in which he actually wrote them).
The first is called Edat d’or (Golden Age), which refers to his childhood. In this volume, and only at the beginning, he describes one of the events that had the biggest impact on his youth: when his parents abandoned him. At just just three years old, Bladé was left in his hometown of Benissanet with his grandparents, while his mother and father moved to Argentina in search of a better life for themselves.
The Ribera writer relates his experiences in the first person as he details important events during his generation, the most outstanding of which is the Spanish Civil War. Bladé doesn’t play a main role in the formation of the Republic, nor is he an external character, eventually becoming the secretary of a counselor in the Catalan government. This position introduces him to some of the most influential players in Catalunya during the 1930s and 40s. The story of how those events unfolded and, above all, his subsequent exile to Mexico (via France) is recorded in one of his most famous books, La exiliada (The Exile).
Viatge a l'esperança
His hardships and nostalgia for Catalunya are masterly recorded in another volume, Viatge a l’esperança (Journey to Hope). Bladé deftly describes all of the pain resulting from being removed from the only place that made him feel authentic and making a living but never really living. Initially he doesn’t understand why this homesickness brings him such discomfort; ultimately, it’s a doctor who prescribes him a visit to his homeland.
Everything Bladé describes when he arrives in Catalunya is incredibly emotional. (I must confess that I cried many times when reading this book.) The text hits you, not because of what it says, but rather how it’s written. It connects with something inside you — an almost therapeutic experience — that leads you by his side as he revisits his past.
If you’re not already convinced on reading his volumes, that’s alright. I’ll give you another option: For four performances only in February, the theater company Endinsart has brought an adaptation of the life of the writer to the stage. In this production, the actress Clàudia Font puts herself in the shoes of Bladé and recites experiences from his fantastic literature. She’s accompanied by actress and violinist Irene Jódar and actor Raul Llopart. The three reconstruct the life and exile of Bladé.
This interpretation not only aims to entertain, but it also aims to vindicate the figure of the writer and his land. The play previously toured in the home county of Bladé, giving the local audience the chance to participate in the creation of the show.
I also provide you with another suggestion: Take one of the three books recommended in this article and go read it in the Ribera L’Ebre. I dare you to not be moved by Bladé and the magic of the landscape.