Helena or the Summer Sea

Original Title: Helena o el mar del verano

Helena o el mar del verano by Julián Ayesta is a delicate, poetic coming-of-age story set in northern Spain. Through the eyes of an adolescent boy, it captures one summer's fleeting beauty, where he meets and falls in love with his cousin Helena. The novella explores themes of first love, nostalgia, and the bittersweet passage of time, framed by the tranquility of seaside landscapes and family gatherings. Ayesta’s prose is lyrical and evocative, reflecting the innocence and tenderness of youth and the inexorable transition to adulthood. The novella stands as a reflection on lost innocence and cherished memories.

Praises

«This is an excellent, enduringly fresh novel, and the prose is masterly».
El País

«One of the most beautiful books in post-war Spanish literature».
La Vanguardia

«The reader is moved from page one onwards».
Diario de Sevilla

«This novel is as little known as it is delicious».
ABC

English Sample Available

Details

Acantilado

January 2000

88 pages

Narrative, Novel

Translation Rights

French (ÉDITIONS LES ALLUSIFS)
German (CH Beck)
Greek (Ekdoseis tou Eikostou Protou)
Dutch (UITGEVERIJ PODIUM)
English (Dedalus Books)
Italian (PASSIGLI EDITORI)
Portuguese / excl. Brazil (Don Quixote)