Summary of The Infatuations
María, a literary editor, observes a loving couple every morning from a distance at the Madrid café where she has breakfast. One day, the couple suddenly disappears, and María learns that the man, Miguel, has been murdered. She discovers that Manuel’s best friend, Javier, is secretly in love with Luisa, the widow, and is patiently waiting for her to overcome her grief. Could Javier have had anything to do with the murder?
Reasons to read The Infatuations
“The Infatuations” is a poignant murder mystery and a philosophical exploration of love, guilt, and truth. Javier Marías was one of Spain’s most celebrated writers, who won many literary awards, including the City of Barcelona Prize in 1989 (for “All Souls“), the Premio de la Crítica (in 1992 for “A Heart So White”, and in 2017 for “Berta Isla”), the Premio Rómulo Gallegos in 1995 (for “Tomorrow in the Battle Think on Me”), the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award in 1997 (for “A Heart So White”), the International Nonino Prize in 2011, and the Austrian State Prize for European Literature in 2011. “The Infatuations” won the Premio Nacional de Narrativa in 2012, but Javier Marías declined the award.
Setting: Madrid (Spain)
Original title: Los Enamoramientos
Year of publication: 2011
Nr of pages: 352
