Don Quixote, a novel penned more than four hundred years ago by the inimitable Miguel Cervantes, has inspired a ballet, a movie, and a Broadway musical. It continues to live on in the exquisite new fiction titled Dulcinea by author Ana Veciana-Suarez.
In contrast to Don Quixote’s muse, Dolca Llull Prat the protagonist in Suarez’ novel is no damsel in distress, no peasant girl, no bar fly either. Dulca is a head strong, only child of a wealthy Catholic merchant. Spoiled by uber extravagance, Dulca dresses in silks and brocades, resides in an enormous mansion pampered by servants. Her personal nanny Aldonca caters to Dolca’s every whim and fiercely protects Dolca’s “Maidenhood.” At fifteen Dolca is of marrying age and must avoid even a whisper of scandal.
A free spirit suffocating under parental and societal restriction in 1570 Barcelona, Dolca dreams of romance, chivalrous men fighting over her. She is bedazzled by Miguel a distant cousin on her mother’s side, a Conversos, (a Spanish Jew who converted to Christianity under threat of persecution), His status is unknown to Dolca. Brash and rakish Miguel is a poet, much too poor to be considered a marriage candidate for Dolca. Nevertheless she is “bewitched with Miguel’s sensuality” aflutter with the idea of forbidden love. Miguel returns her passion. A goddess endowed with every virtue, Dolca inspires Miguel’s latent literary talents. He begins to write a book about her and an “errant knight” in which Dolca features as his “enchantress.”
Cousins Quirze and Gloria facilitate “trysts” between the two lovers thrilled to live vicariously through their brazen rendezvous. Miguel teaches Dolca “the art of love” in secret meetings away from watchful eyes of public scrutiny. When she dares to embrace Miguel at a family celebration, predictably, Dolca’s parents banish Miguel from family visits. Seeking solace Miguel joins the Spanish Armada in naval combat fighting the Turks. He promises a quick reunion. Dulca doesn’t hear from him for five years.
Dolca’s love for her poet/soldier doesn’t wane. She studies art, a concession afforded her while her parents find a suitable husband, a man of power and money for their angelic Dolca. Francesco checks all the boxes. Dolca even begins to love him when (of course) Miguel returns vowing his eternal devotion to Dolca begging her to join him.
Ana Veciana-Suarez creates a saga of unrequited love that unfolds over sixty years within heady historical times, wars, terrors of the inquisition, and the plight of Conversos. And a love that comes to a grinding halt but not because of betrayal, marriage or infidelity, but with the publication of a runaway bestseller that features a low life of a despicable character, a common tramp named Dolca.
An unlikely fantasy about star crossed lovers, the gorgeously detailed novel is worth reading if only to recall Miguel Cervantes work and quixotic characters who inspire us to dream The Impossible Dream in our time.