L'esca del pecat

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

76140

Title

L'esca del pecat

Language

ca

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set in late 19th-century Montevideo, this Catalan novella follows the forbidden romance between a humble shoemaker's daughter and a wealthy stockbroker. When the young man's father discovers their relationship, he arranges a marriage of convenience, only to be murdered by the woman's jealous lover. The story unfolds as a dark tale of deception, greed, and revenge, culminating in a dramatic explosion that exposes the conspirators' true natures.

Summary up to 500 words

Published in 1889 by M. Figuerola Aldroféu, *L'esca del pecat* (The Bait of Sin) is a gripping Catalan novel set in late 19th-century Montevideo that explores the corrosive effects of social stratification and moral corruption. The narrative follows Gracieta, the virtuous daughter of a humble shoemaker, and her romance with Arturo Bosch, a flamboyant stockbroker who secretly funds his lavish lifestyle through insider trading. Their relationship is threatened when Gracieta's father, fearing scandal, arranges for Arturo to marry a wealthy widow, Donya Antonia. However, Arturo's true identity is exposed when his mistress abandons him, leaving him destitute. Simultaneously, a sinister plot unfolds involving Adelina Borel·li, a former ballerina seeking revenge on Antonia for betraying her. She recruits Arturo and a henchman named Mala-ánima to execute a series of crimes. The conspirators plan to smuggle dynamite disguised as stone shipments to destroy a rival's business and eliminate witnesses, including Gracieta's father. The tension escalates as the group prepares to assassinate their targets. The plot reaches its climax aboard a steamship carrying the explosive cargo. Upon inspection, crates are opened, triggering a catastrophic explosion that kills several innocent bystanders, including a judge and a clerk. In the aftermath, the truth emerges. Arturo, realizing his complicity and facing exposure, commits suicide. The remaining conspirators are hunted down. In a final twist, Mala-ánima confesses to the judge, revealing the location of the survivors. Gracieta and her father are rescued from starvation in a cave, while the antagonist Antonia is found dead from her wounds. The novel concludes with the survivors finding redemption and a peaceful life in the countryside, having escaped the "bait of sin" that nearly consumed them. Through its dramatic conclusion, the work serves as a moral warning against the dangers of ambition, deceit, and the abandonment of ethical principles.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/76140.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg76140.epub

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Categories

• Fiction
• Catalan Literature