Mano de Sombra / Shadowed Hand

EL MEJOR HOMENAJE ES LEERLO «Dos a os de tareas dominicales que prueban mi nula disposici n a santificar las fiestas... Al releer estos art culos seguidos, me parece que he opinado demasiado . Estas palabras sirven de introducci n a un Javier Mar as ins lito, cotidiano, atento a lo que ocurre a su alrededor y que atraviesa todos los estados de nimo imaginables: lo vemos evocativo e indignado, a menudo pertido y bromista, pero tambi n atribulado por la sa a espa ola que a n ti e nuestro tiempo; melanc lico, risue o, grave, ir nico, compasivo o desenga ado, siempre logra contagiarnos y no nos deja indiferentes con su Mano de sombra.

Javier Mar as es novelista hasta cuando opina, y cree que para decir tan s lo lo que ya piensa la poca por nosotros, lo consabido, m s vale callarse. As , sus art culos no exponen nunca lo previsible, porque, a diferencia de tantos otros escritores, l reflexiona como si contara, y permite que asistamos al discurrir de ese pensamiento con tanta intriga como se asiste al desenvolvimiento de una historia.

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

THE BEST HOMAGE IS TO READ HIM

"Two years of Sunday scribblings that prove my refusal to honor this day of rest... Upon rereading these articles, I wonder if maybe I've been too opinionated." These words are the perfect introduction to Javier Mar as's unique style, his attention to the mundane and the world around him. This collection of his columns takes us through his many moods: provocative and indignant, cheeky and jocular, but genuinely pained by the enduring scars of Spanish history; melancholy, cheerful, grave, ironic, compassionate or disillusioned. Whatever the tone, they never leave us indifferent.

Javier Mar as the novelist is present even in his opinion pieces. When faced with the choice of spouting conventional wisdom or staying quiet, he preferred to say nothing at all. His articles are never predictable because, unlike other translators, he approached every text as the opportunity to tell a story. Seeing his thoughts evolve is as intriguing as the development of any plotline.