Leon Roch: A Romance, vol. 1 (of 2)

"Leon Roch: A Romance, vol. 1 (of 2)" by Benito Pérez Galdós is a 19th-century novel that looks into love, jealousy, and wanting to climb the social ladder, all seen through the eyes of Leon Roch. He's a young man trying to figure out his tricky relationships, mostly with his soon-to-be wife, María Sudre, and Pepa de Fúcar, someone he knew as a kid. The story pays close attention to how the characters feel and the world they live in, painting a detailed picture of how people interact and what society was like back then. The book kicks off with a letter to Leon from María, hinting at her worries about their relationship and how she feels about him. As Leon thinks about the past and what he feels, the stage is set for the troubles ahead. We also get a glimpse of life at a Spanish resort, full of people chatting about their lives and health problems, showing the gossip and social games that Leon has to deal with as he chases after love and happiness with both María and the fancy Pepa de Fúcar.