La Bodega (The Fruit of the Vine)

"La Bodega," written in 1903, is the third of the notable series in which Blasco Ibanez attacks important questions of the day. It was preceded by "La Catedral" (The Shadow of the Cathedral) and "El Intruso" ("The Intruder"), and was directly followed by "La Horda" ("The Horde"). The first of these books deals with the retrogressive influence of the Catholic Church upon Spain; the second, with the Jesuits. "La Bodega" is a double assault: first, upon the vice of drunkenness, and second, upon the propertied interests that willfully keep the lower class in ignorance. [Translated from the Spanish by Dr. Isaac Goldberg.] Vincente Blasco Ibanez (1867-1928) was a journalist, politician, and best selling Spanish author in a number of different genres. Ibanez' works would have been considered Constumbrismo, because they depicted the details of rural life in the farmlands. Two of his novels have been adapted into Hollywood films, but he is best known for his novel "Blood and Sand." "The Fruit of the Vine" follows the love story of Rafael and Maria de la Luz while also acting as a social commentary on the rights of common humanity.