The main character of Miquel Àngel Riera's Illa Flaubert, in his search after loneliness, ends up taking refuge in the lighthouse of an abandoned island.
That first day he went to live on the island, it rained all night. It was the start of some and through the window of the lighthouse-keeper's cottage, where the shutter was missing, a warm air came in, loaded with familiar smells amongst which was the briny smell from the rockpools, identifiable more from the thought that it was logical that you could smell it was so close rather than the actual fact that there really was a smell coming from it. That smell was not exactly the smell of damp earth, which, in the town, used to get into the house from the courtyard, but it was so similar that it helped him to feel that he had lived there for some time.
Illa Flaubert, 1990
Translated by Richard Mansell. Performed by Toni Gomila.
(Manacor, 1930 – Palma, 1996). Miquel Àngel Riera began his studies in Manacor, and then enrolled in Law at the University of Barcelona as an independent student. He was friends with Jaume Vidal Alcover and Guillem d’Efak, and he shared his literary concerns with them. His first published book is a collection of poems in 1965, Poemes a Nai (Poems for Nai) which had a strong impact, and was followed by Biografia (Biography), which was not published until 1974, even though it was written some years earlier. His poetic production regained momentum at the start of the 1990s, with highlights such as El pis de la badia (The flat by the bay) in 1992, amongst others. In the 1970s he began his career as a prose writer with the publication of Fuita i martiri de sant Andreu Milà (The escape and martyrdom of Saint Andreu Milà, 1973); however, it was his following novel, Morir quan cal (Die when necessary, 1974) which raised his profile outside of the island and its success amongst readers and critics continued until his death. He was the publisher of two collections, “El turó” (The hill) for writers from Manacor, later open to the rest of the country, and finally the so-called “Tià de sa Real” (Sebastian from sa Real) which covered a range of writers and themes. He received the Creu de Sant Jordi in 1989.
Illa Flaubert is an analysis of the attitudes of man when faced with solitude and death. The protagonist, a literature professor, undertakes an investigation into solitude, as the only way of combatting the destructive power of time, which ultimately leads him to take refuge in the lighthouse of an abandoned island and face test after test to rail against death’s unstoppable march onwards.
The Majorcan coast is dotted with watchtowers. This one, Torre del Serral dels Falcons (The tower of falcon’s hill) was built around 1580 and communicated with those in Portocolom and Artà, by means of smoke of fire depending on the time of day. It was built at a crucial moment of danger of attacks on Majorcan shores from Berber pirates. It has two sections: the lower part is solid and you can only reach the upper section using a stepladder or a rope. A spiral staircase led to the terrace, which was fortified to protect it from attack.
This place is linked to the life and work of Miquel Àngel Riera. The writer lived for a long time in a little house near the tower, sea side. This place permeates the landscapes of his Illa Flaubert. Nowadays, the garden that envolves the Tower bears his name since 2006. The park Miquel Àngel Riera is a tribute to the writer.
