Miquel Àngel Riera

The sixteen stories comprising Lascivious Chronicle of a Decadence develop the signature themes found throughout Miquel Àngel Riera's entire literary oeuvre: dual human nature, poised midway between beast and angel; the human struggle against the passage of time and death; human coexistence, governed by moral and social norms that often stifle individual freedom and happiness; and, lastly, the miraculous and magical power of the word, of language as a vehicle for creating a happier world. However, unlike his novels, these short stories introduce a degree of distance through an ever-surprising lens, imbued with a distinct humor, irony, and an unmistakable sense of magic.