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Doña Luz
The marquis of Villafria, having squandered his fortune on a dissolute life in Madrid, has had to retire to rural Andalusia, to the town of Villafria, with his young daughter Dona Luz. There he comes under the sway of Don Acisclo, his one-time steward, who, by dint of shrewdness and hard and diligent work, has ended up with the marquis's property, estates, and influence.
After the marquis's death, Don Acisclo, his own family grown and living elsewhere, insists that Dona Luz come to live with him. At first she resists, but ultimately yields, because, impoverished as she is and with the cloud of illegitimacy hanging over her, she can live a quiet, retiring life without the attendant gossip that would follow her were she alone in her own home. She soon develops a small, close circle of friends - in addition to Don Acisclo himself, the doctor Don Anselmo. Don Anselmo's daughter Dona Manolita and her husband Pepe Gueto, and Don Miguel the parish priest. Pious and cultured, very beautiful and very reserved, she is respected by the townspeople and courted by young men for miles around, all of whom she turns down. Content with her tertuha, or gathering of close friends, her devotions, her books, and her daily routine, Dona Luz is unmoved by the prospect of marriage, because of her illegitimacy and her extremely modest financial status.
But then two men enter her life: Father Enrique, the ailing missionary nephew of Don Acisclo who returns from the Philippines to rest, and Don Jaime Pimentel, the dashing young military man whom Don Acisclo has chosen to back as the district representative in an uncoming election. How Dona Luz responds to both men determines the direction her life will take and the manner in which her illegitimacy will be explained.
After the marquis's death, Don Acisclo, his own family grown and living elsewhere, insists that Dona Luz come to live with him. At first she resists, but ultimately yields, because, impoverished as she is and with the cloud of illegitimacy hanging over her, she can live a quiet, retiring life without the attendant gossip that would follow her were she alone in her own home. She soon develops a small, close circle of friends - in addition to Don Acisclo himself, the doctor Don Anselmo. Don Anselmo's daughter Dona Manolita and her husband Pepe Gueto, and Don Miguel the parish priest. Pious and cultured, very beautiful and very reserved, she is respected by the townspeople and courted by young men for miles around, all of whom she turns down. Content with her tertuha, or gathering of close friends, her devotions, her books, and her daily routine, Dona Luz is unmoved by the prospect of marriage, because of her illegitimacy and her extremely modest financial status.
But then two men enter her life: Father Enrique, the ailing missionary nephew of Don Acisclo who returns from the Philippines to rest, and Don Jaime Pimentel, the dashing young military man whom Don Acisclo has chosen to back as the district representative in an uncoming election. How Dona Luz responds to both men determines the direction her life will take and the manner in which her illegitimacy will be explained.
177 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2002
About the author
Juan Valera
578 books28 followersJuan Valera y Alcalá-Galiano was a Spanish realist author, writer and political figure.
He was born at Cabra, in the province of Córdoba, and was educated at Málaga and at the University of Granada, where he took his degree in law, and then entered upon a diplomatic career (1847). Over the next five decades, Valera filled a number of positions in a variety of various places. He accompanied the Spanish Ambassador to Naples. Afterwards, he was a member of the Spanish legations at Lisbon (1850), Rio de Janeiro (1851–53), Dresden and St. Petersburg (1854–57). After his return to Madrid, he became one of the editors of the liberal journal El Contemporáneo (1859), and was appointed Minister to Frankfurt (1865). After the revolution of 1868 he was appointed Assistant Secretary of State and (1871) Director of Public Instruction. During the reign of Alphonso XII he was Minister to Lisbon (1881–83), Washington (1883–86), and Brussels (1886–88), and in 1893-95 Ambassador to Vienna. He was elected to the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences in 1900.
Throughout his diplomatic and political activity he produced works which rank among the highest that his country's literature contains. For purity of diction and beauty of style Valera has never been surpassed in Spain. Pepita Jiménez, which appeared as a serial in 1874, is probably his best known work; it has since been translated into many languages. It depicts the gradual realization by a young seminarian of the empty vanity of his vocation, culminating in a shattering denouement. Other novels are Las ilusions del doctor Faustino (1875), El comendador Mendoza (1877), Pasarse de listo, and Doña Luz (1879). All of the foregoing novels were written around the time when he abandoned his political activities. He was also a supporter of Iberian Federalism.
He was born at Cabra, in the province of Córdoba, and was educated at Málaga and at the University of Granada, where he took his degree in law, and then entered upon a diplomatic career (1847). Over the next five decades, Valera filled a number of positions in a variety of various places. He accompanied the Spanish Ambassador to Naples. Afterwards, he was a member of the Spanish legations at Lisbon (1850), Rio de Janeiro (1851–53), Dresden and St. Petersburg (1854–57). After his return to Madrid, he became one of the editors of the liberal journal El Contemporáneo (1859), and was appointed Minister to Frankfurt (1865). After the revolution of 1868 he was appointed Assistant Secretary of State and (1871) Director of Public Instruction. During the reign of Alphonso XII he was Minister to Lisbon (1881–83), Washington (1883–86), and Brussels (1886–88), and in 1893-95 Ambassador to Vienna. He was elected to the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences in 1900.
Throughout his diplomatic and political activity he produced works which rank among the highest that his country's literature contains. For purity of diction and beauty of style Valera has never been surpassed in Spain. Pepita Jiménez, which appeared as a serial in 1874, is probably his best known work; it has since been translated into many languages. It depicts the gradual realization by a young seminarian of the empty vanity of his vocation, culminating in a shattering denouement. Other novels are Las ilusions del doctor Faustino (1875), El comendador Mendoza (1877), Pasarse de listo, and Doña Luz (1879). All of the foregoing novels were written around the time when he abandoned his political activities. He was also a supporter of Iberian Federalism.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 5, 2026
Un clásico más de uno de los maestros del costumbrismo andaluz. Escrita en 1879 Valera vuelve a un personaje femenino que se debate entre lo divino y lo humano.
Doña Luz es una joven de 27 años, hija natural del marqués de Villafría y de una mujer desconocida, fue educada por un aya inglesa contratada por su derrochador padre, se trasladan a vivir a la casona familiar de Villafría, un pueblo rural andaluz. Cuando su padre muere, pasa a la tutela de Don Acisclo, administrador de su padre, allí crece como mujer culta y virtuosa, asiste a las tertulias de los próceres del lugar, desestima pretendientes etc. Al pueblo llega el padre Enrique, un hombre piadoso, primo de Don Acisclo y que poco a poco va sintiendose atraído por Doña Luz, que se siente unida a él en lo espiritual. Al poco llega otro personaje Don Jaime Pimentel, un joven aspirante diputado por quien se sentirá atraída la apasionada Doña Luz y con el que finalmente acabará casándose para agonía de Don Enrique.
Valera hace un retrato costumbrista de la hipócrita sociedad rural andaluza de la época, de los políticos corruptos, los caciques y diputados que solo anhelan votos y hacerse con clientes que les den dinero. Es un maestro en la descripción de ambientes. Como narrador onmisciente, lo vemos presente frecuentemente en la obra dirigiéndose al lector para explicar sentimientos o actitudes; asimismo, su escritura está llena de ironía y sentido del humor.
Los temas que trata son variados y recurrentes en sus obras, la contraposición entre el amor mundano y el divino y que en este caso ambos son dramáticos, la inconveniencia de ir en contra de las normas sociales, la soledad autoimpuesta, la crisis sacerdotal que lleva a la agonía y la muerte en esta obra, la búsqueda de un ideal que no se puede conseguir etc.
Es un libro con un profundo análisis de personajes y abundantes disquisiciones morales, místicas y religiosas que pueden resultar duros de leer.
Doña Luz es una joven de 27 años, hija natural del marqués de Villafría y de una mujer desconocida, fue educada por un aya inglesa contratada por su derrochador padre, se trasladan a vivir a la casona familiar de Villafría, un pueblo rural andaluz. Cuando su padre muere, pasa a la tutela de Don Acisclo, administrador de su padre, allí crece como mujer culta y virtuosa, asiste a las tertulias de los próceres del lugar, desestima pretendientes etc. Al pueblo llega el padre Enrique, un hombre piadoso, primo de Don Acisclo y que poco a poco va sintiendose atraído por Doña Luz, que se siente unida a él en lo espiritual. Al poco llega otro personaje Don Jaime Pimentel, un joven aspirante diputado por quien se sentirá atraída la apasionada Doña Luz y con el que finalmente acabará casándose para agonía de Don Enrique.
Valera hace un retrato costumbrista de la hipócrita sociedad rural andaluza de la época, de los políticos corruptos, los caciques y diputados que solo anhelan votos y hacerse con clientes que les den dinero. Es un maestro en la descripción de ambientes. Como narrador onmisciente, lo vemos presente frecuentemente en la obra dirigiéndose al lector para explicar sentimientos o actitudes; asimismo, su escritura está llena de ironía y sentido del humor.
Los temas que trata son variados y recurrentes en sus obras, la contraposición entre el amor mundano y el divino y que en este caso ambos son dramáticos, la inconveniencia de ir en contra de las normas sociales, la soledad autoimpuesta, la crisis sacerdotal que lleva a la agonía y la muerte en esta obra, la búsqueda de un ideal que no se puede conseguir etc.
Es un libro con un profundo análisis de personajes y abundantes disquisiciones morales, místicas y religiosas que pueden resultar duros de leer.
July 15, 2021
1879 novel based in 1879 Andalusia about Dona a child of an adulterous relation of a broke Marquis. She moves in with Don Acislco (70s) the accountant. She befriends Dr Anselmo and his young wife Manolita (21). Now in her late 20s, devout Father Enrique moves into the area after preaching abroad; later young Pimentel wins the local election and comes to know her too. Who loves her and what does she learn about their true feelings once she commits to one of them? Two letters written years earlier arrive and explain everything.
A worthy rural naturalist style novel though not a very forthright. It was ok but overall I did find it rather dry and unemotional.
A worthy rural naturalist style novel though not a very forthright. It was ok but overall I did find it rather dry and unemotional.
February 10, 2022
Juanita la Larga > Pepita Jiménez > Doña Luz
A pesar de formar parte de la "trilogía feminista" de Valera, Doña Luz es más un folletín que otra cosa: los orígenes misteriosos, las cartas escritas para leer solo después de la muerte del remitente, los giros inesperados... Yo la he disfrutado muchísimo, pero claramente juega en una categoría diferente a las otras dos novelas. Desgraciadamente, las notas al pie me espoilearon el giro final (¿para cuándo una colección de clásicos sin notas al pie?), pero la manera en que los acontecimientos se desatan a partir de la segunda mitad me enganchó igualmente. Es el efecto telenovela, supongo :D
A pesar de formar parte de la "trilogía feminista" de Valera, Doña Luz es más un folletín que otra cosa: los orígenes misteriosos, las cartas escritas para leer solo después de la muerte del remitente, los giros inesperados... Yo la he disfrutado muchísimo, pero claramente juega en una categoría diferente a las otras dos novelas. Desgraciadamente, las notas al pie me espoilearon el giro final (¿para cuándo una colección de clásicos sin notas al pie?), pero la manera en que los acontecimientos se desatan a partir de la segunda mitad me enganchó igualmente. Es el efecto telenovela, supongo :D
March 25, 2022
Clásico que he disfrutado
January 14, 2024
Bien escrito
April 4, 2025
Una novela muy bien escrita, si bien hay un par de capítulos que se me atragantaron. En general es muy recomendable.
February 21, 2026
aquí ha patinado mi hombre. mierdon 👎🏻
June 19, 2023
I read this book because I wanted to read something out of my genre comforts. I am glad I read it. It was written in the late 1800s by a Spanish writer and this edition was translated recently. I could tell it was a recent translation because the vocabulary was very modern. I am curious if there are English translations from the late 1800s?
It is a classic love story but with very heady intellectual philosophical debates and musings. At first I tried to read through these but eventually I skipped over a lot of it. This dialogue seems more suited to young adults who are pursuing the meaning of life.
I did enjoy the fact that life isn't much different in the 1800s Spain as it is today. People are still the same.
I really enjoyed the authors description of Don Acisclo. "He had served as administrator to the Marquis of Villlafria for at least 20yrs, during which time he had managed to arrange for all the assets of the marquisate to trickle gradually from his master's hands into his own more able and thrifty hands."
I would recommend this book because it describes a time in history that is probably not familiar to many. I also like how the author describes the characters and the unusual way the story is told.
It is a classic love story but with very heady intellectual philosophical debates and musings. At first I tried to read through these but eventually I skipped over a lot of it. This dialogue seems more suited to young adults who are pursuing the meaning of life.
I did enjoy the fact that life isn't much different in the 1800s Spain as it is today. People are still the same.
I really enjoyed the authors description of Don Acisclo. "He had served as administrator to the Marquis of Villlafria for at least 20yrs, during which time he had managed to arrange for all the assets of the marquisate to trickle gradually from his master's hands into his own more able and thrifty hands."
I would recommend this book because it describes a time in history that is probably not familiar to many. I also like how the author describes the characters and the unusual way the story is told.
May 31, 2015
Doña Luz is a beautiful woman desired by every man in town, but she is standoffish and disinterested in romance. Until her late 20s, she associates mainly with a priest. The priest is rumored to harbor secret affections for her, but she finds this an insulting insinuation, so she "sought to cover the ears of her soul," as the author puts it, and won't let the difficult truth come in.
Finally, a man comes along who seems to be a credible match, so...
Her failed relationships and Romantic tragedy are mostly of her own making, but also something she has inherited from her parents and also fostered by the culture in which she lives.
The author often makes comments such as "The most important characteristics in a woman are honesty and modesty, while in a man, they are knowledge and courage," which I think are ironic comments about what the people in the story (published 1879) believe, not necessarily what he believes.
- - - -
Finally, a man comes along who seems to be a credible match, so...
Her failed relationships and Romantic tragedy are mostly of her own making, but also something she has inherited from her parents and also fostered by the culture in which she lives.
The author often makes comments such as "The most important characteristics in a woman are honesty and modesty, while in a man, they are knowledge and courage," which I think are ironic comments about what the people in the story (published 1879) believe, not necessarily what he believes.
- - - -
"And why do you say that Don Juan is mad?" Doña Manolita once asked him.
"Why would I not?" answered Don Acisclo. "Because he is mad as a hatter. He is the oddest duck I have ever met in my life."
July 25, 2015
This book is regarded as something of a literary classic in Spain. The story is essentially a love triangle, with the beautiful and pure-minded Dona Luz at its apex.
Along the way we get plenty of thought-provoking debates and views on religion, wealth, the social order and love. The author is sometimes cynical and always clear-sighted.
I did not feel the characters came as fully to life as I would have liked, so have given the book four stars instead of five.
Along the way we get plenty of thought-provoking debates and views on religion, wealth, the social order and love. The author is sometimes cynical and always clear-sighted.
I did not feel the characters came as fully to life as I would have liked, so have given the book four stars instead of five.
December 20, 2015
Literatura clásica de la Espańa costumbrista del siglo xix.
March 7, 2016
El final me gustó. En general me parece un buen libro, en especial por la época en la que se escribió.
Read
April 4, 2016Acabar viviendo de la caridad del administrador de tu padre.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews