Cenizas

A novel written in the early 20th century. The story is set in Sardinia, focusing on the life of a young girl named Olí who grapples with familial expectations, love, and societal pressures as she navigates her adolescent desires and the consequences of her actions. Through Olí's journey, themes of tradition, fate, and the struggle between personal freedom and social obligation are likely explored. At the start of ''Cenizas,'' we meet Olí, a 15-year-old girl, on the eve of the feast of San Juan. She is depicted as beautiful and passionate, gathering herbs while secretly on her way to an amorous meeting with her young lover, Anania, a peasant who harbors dreams of treasure and escape. As their secret romance unfolds against the backdrop of rural Sardinia, familial conflicts arise when her father discovers the truth about Anania's marital status and the dangers that accompany their forbidden love. The opening sets up a poignant exploration of youthful enthusiasm versus the stark realities of life, ultimately hinting at the trials that await Olí as she seeks her place in a constrictive society.