Belarmino and Apolonio (1921) is a study of contrasts and opposing views. Pérez de Ayala was concerned with humanity’s incapacity to grasp the whole truth about any particular situation. And to get his readers to overcome this handicap, he creates a story in which, quoting literary critic Frances Weber,:
- Two theorists argue about two opposing ways to understand human behavior
- Three narrators report the action in two separate but related plots
- Events take place over two different time periods and, are related as fact and sometimes as fiction
This is a book of plural realities. It is also an exploration of Spanish society. At its heart are two of the most interesting characters in literature: Belarmino and Apolonio. Both are shoemakers. However, their true passions lie elsewhere. Belarmino is a philosopher and has created his own language of words with opaque and unexpected meanings. Apolonio is a playwright. Obviously, they are both obsessed with words. But they also hate each, which is odd because they are more similar than not. Their children fall in love but are driven apart by their parents. They will meet again in the end. Belarmino and Apolonio is a very serious novel. But in keeping with the author’s sense of duality, it is also playful. It recalls the works of Italo Calvino so I’m not surprised that I enjoyed it. The world has forgotten Ramon Pérez de Ayala. It’s a pity because this book deserves to be read.
(This publication is part of the now defunct “Quartet Encounters”, an eclectic series of European books.)
Kinna Reads 
I love the sound of this book Kinna, it sounds really odd, but really great as well. Thank you for reviewing it.
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It is odd, but in a literary, humorous, interrogative and philosophical way. I’m still a bit puzzled by it.
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Was this one translated to English? It sounds good.. I am sorry to hear the series is now defunct, but I am curious to see what they ahve published before..
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Yes, it was translated into English from the Spanish. The series published other European writers like Kreleza, Lagerkvist and others. I wonder what informed their choice of writers because most of them are not well-known. I will post a review on the Kreleza book soon.
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Interesting sounding book. I’m going to have to read some more about it.
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It’s quite an obscure book. The author is almost forgotten too.
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Sounds like it’s serious, sounds good as well and it reminds you of Calvino? Hmmm… To be read? The list is growing… all the time, every day.
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The list is always growing. We should be worried only when the growth stops!
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I agree that the book is a serious novel. Though I have not read it, I can glean it from your review.
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But it was also quite comic in some parts.
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[…] Belarmino and Apolonio (1921) by the Spaniard Ramón Pérez de Ayala and translated by Baumgarten and Berns – The story of shoemaker-philosopher Belarmino and shoemaker-playwright Apolonio who are bitter rivals. Both are put out of work by the advent of mass production of shoes. Considered de Ayala’s greatest work. […]
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[…] Belarmino and Apolonio by Ramon Pérez de Ayala […]
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