Insolacion: Historia amorosa

Emilia Pardo Bazan, the most prolific and influential Spanish female writer of the nineteenth century, was a very controversial figure, vilified for her embracement of naturalism and her robust feminist stance. When Insolacion was published in 1889 it provoked a litany of negative comments and personal insults. This subtle, psychological novel, drawing on many aspects of its author's personal life, deals with the relationship between Asis, a respectable Galician widow, and Pacheco, a feckless womaniser from Andalucia. Although they scarcely know each other, Asis accepts Pacheco's invitation to visit the San Isidro Fair, where a heady cocktail of sun, alcohol and revelry causes her to behave in an uncharacteristic manner. Insolacion explores the conflict between Asis's self-recrimination and concern for the 'que diran' and her nascent sexuality. Finally, despite her determination to banish Pacheco from her mind and her intention to go back to Galicia, the couple sleep together and decide to marry. The perceived promiscuity of this work of fiction scandalised the reading public as well as many leading critics. Pereda considered Asis's behaviour reprehensible and Clarin dismissed the novel as a pseudo-erotic boutade. Nowadays, Insolacion is recognised as an important novel.