is the second novel by acclaimed Spanish author Almudena Grandes, first published in 1991. It is a complex urban love story set in a "soulless" Madrid, exploring themes of extreme loneliness, desolation, and the redemptive power of storytelling. Plot Summary
: A protagonist marked by "the misery of the hero," described as unattractive and huraño (unsociable).
: A "failed intellectual" and owner of a run-down bar who provides philosophical diversions for Benito.
: Unlike traditional fairy tales, the protagonists are "ugly" and marginalized, focusing on the flaws and insecurities of real people rather than idealized versions. Digital Editions (EPUB/eBook)