Juan Pablo Castel, a painter, tells the reader at the start that he has killed Maria Iribarne, and then he explains why. The reasons begin with one of his paintings: a small window in the background of a canvas where he notices a woman looking at it, and who is the only person who seems to understand it. Obsessed, he follows her through Buenos Aires, tries to find her, and begins a relationship that he cannot trust. Ernesto Sabato narrates in a cold, analytical voice, and the book shows how isolation, jealousy, and lucid reasoning can lead to violence. It is a short novel that influenced Latin American existentialist writing.
It suits readers who like psychological fiction.
Deep, inward-looking and thought-provoking; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Wisdom Collector. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1948
- Language
- EN
