La sonrisa etrusca / José Luis Sampedro

Salvador Roncone es un granjero italiano que ha llevado una vida sencilla en su tierra natal, en una aldea etrusca en Italia. Sin embargo, su vida da un giro cuando se le diagnostica un cáncer terminal en el pulmón. Su médico le recomienda que se someta a una cirugía, pero Salvador rechaza el tratamiento y decide pasar sus últimos días en Barcelona, viviendo con su hijo, su nuera y su nieta.

La llegada de Salvador a Barcelona plantea un choque cultural, ya que se encuentra en una gran ciudad moderna, muy diferente de la vida rural que ha conocido. A medida que se adapta a su nueva vida, desarrolla una relación especial con su nieta, a quien llama "Bambina," y comienza a descubrir una ciudad que es a la vez desconocida y fascinante.

A lo largo de la novela, Salvador experimenta una transformación emocional y psicológica, a medida que se enfrenta a su propia mortalidad y reflexiona sobre su vida. La "sonrisa etrusca" del título se refiere a una antigua estatua etrusca que Salvador encuentra en el Museo de Arte de Barcelona y que simboliza su búsqueda de belleza y significado en los últimos días de su vida.

"La Sonrisa Etrusca" es una novela emotiva que explora temas como la familia, el envejecimiento, la mortalidad y la búsqueda de la belleza y la felicidad en la vida cotidiana. La obra es conocida por su prosa conmovedora y su capacidad para abordar temas profundos de una manera sencilla y accesible.

Salvador Roncone is an Italian farmer who has led a simple life in his native land, in an Etruscan village in Italy. However, his life takes a turn when he is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. His doctor recommends surgery, but Salvador rejects the treatment and decides to spend his last days in Barcelona, living with his son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter.

Salvador's arrival in Barcelona poses a cultural clash as he finds himself in a large, modern city, very different from the rural life he has known. As he adjusts to his new life, he develops a special relationship with his granddaughter, whom he calls "Bambina," and begins to discover a city that is both unfamiliar and fascinating.

Throughout the novel, Salvador undergoes an emotional and psychological transformation as he confronts his own mortality and reflects on his life. The "Etruscan smile" of the title refers to an ancient Etruscan statue that Salvador finds in the Barcelona Museum of Art, symbolizing his search for beauty and meaning in the last days of his life.

"La Sonrisa Etrusca" is an emotive novel that explores themes such as family, aging, mortality, and the search for beauty and happiness in everyday life. The work is known for its moving prose and its ability to address profound themes in a simple and accessible manner.