Corazón tan blanco. (A Heart So White)

Originally published in 1992 by Anagrama, this is arguably Marías's breakthrough novel, the one that transformed him from a cult author to Spain's most international writer. In vintage Marías fashion, the story is voiced by a perceptive narrator who's attentive to every detail surrounding him. Juan Ranz is a professional translator used to weigh every word's hidden nuances, and in this manner he tells a frightening family story involving his dominant father and the suicide of his mother's sister. Ranz also recounts his own marriage and honeymoon in Havana, his experiences as a translator in high-diplomacy settings, and a visit to a female friend in New York, among other deceivingly random anecdotes. Marías (or his narrator) also ponders aloud about the institution of marriage, the dangers of overhearing, and other moral, political, or simply banal issues. A precise, intelligent prose, a series of intriguing plot lines, and some surprisingly funny moments show Marías at the top of his game. This novel remains a great introduction to the author, who last year published the last installment of his brilliant but frankly intimidating trilogy, "Tu rostro mañana."—Carlos Rodríguez Martorell, East Elmhurst, NY