| Catalans; The by Patrick O'Brian, --A dark story of love and
betrayal set against the brilliant colors of the Catalan country in
southern France. This novel , long out of print, is a powerful
successor to Testimonies, Patrick O'Brian's first novel written for
adults. It is set in the corner of France that became O'Brian's
adopted home, where the long dark wall of the Pyrenees runs headlong
to meet the Mediterranean. Alan Roig returns to Saint-Feliu after
years in the East and finds his family in crisis. His dour,
middle-aged cousin Xavier, mayor and most powerful citizen of the
town, has fallen in love and plans to marry the young daughter of
the local grocer. The Roig family property is threatened by this
union, and Madeleine's relative object on different grounds. Xavier
is a tragic figure, damned by what he perceives as a lack of
feeling; Madeleine is to be his salvation. Unfortunately she does
not return his affection, and as the feasts and harvest festivals of
Saint-Feliu are played out, she finds herself falling in love with
Alain. 0-393-05110-2 W. W. Norton, 5.4X8.5 inches, pages 224. , List
price 23.95, Your Price $18.00. B00181.
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