“Crimen” by Agustín Espinosa

Lately I have been writing about several books that don’t really follow a storyline. We can think of “Impresiones y Paisajes” by Lorca, or “Lancelot 28°-7” by Agustín Espinosa. “Crimen” (1934), also by the Canarian author Agustín Espinosa, doesn't have a complete storyline. It’s possible that this kind of books can seem boring, but in this case the reader has to focus on something else, and not just paying attention to the plot. It is crucial to understand that during the first half of the 20th century many intellectuals tried to experiment with literature, and the way a text is written. I love giving the example of “Cazador en el Alba”, by Francisco Ayala, because it focuses on the style and not that much on the story.

“Crimen” is the perfect book to understand Surrealism in literature. The person that tells the story confesses that he killed his wife during the honeymoon, throwing her through the train window. Killing her hunts him, and affects him mentally. Most of this book shows a subconscious that cannot forget this murder, and expresses it through dreams, nightmares and a strong imagination.

This is a very short book, but very useful if the reader wants to approach surrealist and experimental writings. Without knowing that the person who is talking murdered his wife, we cannot understand anything. Knowing what happened allows us to comprehend each text in the book. It is very easy to read, and somehow keeps us entertained by trying to put all pieces together, and interpreting it. Like always, Espinosa’s writing is very poetic, and uses images that are very significant through the entire book. In this case the sea is crucial. But also his selection of words is unexpected, and shocking. The use of words like excrements, masturbation, or vomit are used many times:

“Ella se masturbaba cotidianamente sobe él, mientras besaba el retrato de un muchacho de suave bigote oscuro”

But this is something I believe we can expect in many surrealist texts, like in “México y Viaje al País de los Tarahumaras” by Antonin Artaud.