Mar 12 • 04:30 UTC 🇪🇸 Spain El País

A raw and beautiful book about the suffering of losing a home in Barcelona

Stefanie Kremser's autobiographical essay 'Acció de gràcies per una casa' reflects on the themes of rootlessness and homelessness in Barcelona.

In her autobiographical essay 'Acció de gràcies per una casa,' Stefanie Kremser poignantly explores the emotional and physical dislocation suffered by those losing their homes in Barcelona. The narrative illustrates the bittersweet nature of longing for stability while grappling with the realities of modern nomadism and the struggle for housing. The book is sparked by an anecdote shared by Nobel Laureate László Krasznahorkai about a letter from his hometown requesting funds for a wooden bridge, tying community connection to individual experiences of loss and belonging.

Kremser introduces readers to Severina, a Brazilian house cleaner who implores the author to tell her life story, expressing a dream of selling her narrative to buy a home. This character serves as a lens through which the reader experiences the harsh realities of housing insecurity alongside Kremser's reflections on her own past. Through this personal lens, the book offers critical insights into the wider issues facing residents of urban areas grappling with displacement and the meaning of home in a rapidly changing city.

As Kremser has previously engaged with themes of home in her earlier works, 'Acció de gràcies per una casa' deepens the conversation about the intersection of personal and collective identity, resulting in a narrative that feels both universal and deeply specific. The resonance of her story speaks to many facing the plight of losing their homes amidst the backdrop of Barcelona's changing landscape, emphasizing the continuing relevance of these issues in contemporary society.

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