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Esta completa y cuidada construcción narrativa es la que permi- in 20th Century Spain whose various works—not just her
te la elaboración de un mensaje velado (no explicitado, pero no award-winning Nada—deserve continued attention, redis-
por ello menos lúcido y perceptible) que el lector cómplice (al covery and appreciation.
que se le exige la misma sagacidad) ha de descubrir en su atenta,
activa, reflexiva y creativa lectura. (293)
Mark P. Del Mastro
College of Charleston
Benson’s critical framework ties Laforet’s fiction to the
broader discourse of Spain’s “cultura de la transición” and
“memoria histórica.” He argues that Laforet’s writing func-
tions as a counter-memory to the erasures imposed by both
the Franco regime and the so-called “pact of forgetting”
during the democratic transition.
Benson also advocates for a redefinition of literary val- Benson, Ken.
ue and canon formation, challenging the masculinist biases La subversión silente: Carmen
of 20th-century literary criticism. He notes the absence of
gender consciousness in key literary histories; an absence he Laforet. Poética y hermenéutica.
strives to rectify be re-examining Laforet through feminist Valencia, Spain: Diálogos Peninsulares, Albatros Ediciones.
and post-structuralist perspectives. 2024. 308 pp.
Countering pervasive claims—especially within Spain—
that Laforet’s work lacks stylistic ambition, Benson ar-
gues for her literature’s sophistication, thematic depth, and
ideological complexity. He convincingly positions Laforet’s l reciente centenario del nacimiento de Carmen La-
works as intentionally subtle and coded due to the censored Eforet (2021) ha generado un resurgimiento de la
environment in which she lived. atención crítica sobre la obra de la escritora española, y los
In conclusion, Benson’s study is yet another invaluable múltiples estudios de Ken Benson constituyen, sin duda,
contribution to the landscape of Laforetian scholarship that importantes contribuciones a esta tendencia. En particular,
will be of value for graduate students, researchers, and ac- su obra La subversión silente sitúa a Benson entre los estu-
ademics devoted to Hispanic studies, comparative litera- diosos laforetianos más importantes del momento.
ture, gender studies, and literary theory. La subversión si- Este libro es un análisis riguroso y reflexivo de la obra de
lente reinforces the role of Laforet as a key literary figure Laforet que refuerza su posición dentro del canon de la li-
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Revist a de al ce s XXI Número 7 , 2025
