A Tale or Two of One City: San Sebastián (1884–1885) by Benito Pérez Galdós

Abstract

In 1884–1885 Galdós was sufficiently interested in the Basque city of San Sebastián to feel compelled to write about it, in different modes, on three separate occasions: in conversation snippets in La de Bringas, then in a travel article for the newspaper, La Prensa, of Buenos Aires, and finally, in an episode of Lo prohibido, centred on Chapter XIX. The main unifying theme of all three examples is the question of summer vacations spent by the élite of Madrid society in the northern seaside resort. Inherently connected themes include sexual laxity and spendthriftiness on female fashions. Their treatment varies accordingly, but in the two major examples, Galdós, whilst expressing admiration for the visual charms of the city and its environs, attacks the frivolous activities of the holiday-makers from Madrid. In Lo prohibido, events seen through the account of the narrator-protagonist’s pursuit of his cousin, Camila, are given an added literary function. Galdós’ late inclusion of a paragraph about the former’s decision to write his memoirs in San Sebastián has the effect of adding depth to the novel’s format, as well as increasing the challenge presented to the reader in interpreting it.