Španjolski vrtlar
Cronin's novel masterfully depicts the conflict between cold intellect and warmth of heart, the harmfulness of possessive love and the healing power of true human intimacy. The novel is at once a tender story about a child's soul and a sharp critique of e
Nicholas, a sensitive nine-year-old boy, lives with his father, Harrington Brand, a cold and ambitious American diplomat, in a small Spanish seaside town in 1937, after his mother's death and his parents' divorce. The father is obsessed with his career, but also pathologically possessive of his son, whom he neglects, keeps under strict supervision and isolates from his peers.
A young gardener, José Santero, a cheerful, simple and kind-hearted Spaniard, comes to the house. Nicholas quickly becomes attached to him - José teaches him about nature, takes him for walks, fishing, builds him a beautiful garden and becomes a true spiritual father and best friend. Father Brande sees all this as a threat to his authority. He becomes increasingly jealous, spies on them, humiliates José, and finally falsely accuses him of stealing silver cutlery in order to get rid of him.
José ends up in prison, Nicholas sinks into despair and illness. But the truth comes out – the servant Garcia, Brando's spy, confesses that he stole the tools on his master's orders. José is freed, but refuses compensation from Brando. Nicholas runs away from his father and joins José, who goes to work on another estate. In the end, the father is left completely alone, realizing that his selfishness has destroyed the only person who truly loved him.
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