The city of the discreet

"The City of the Discreet" by Pío Baroja is a novel that takes place in Córdoba, Spain, and follows Quentin García Roelas as he comes back to his hometown after being in England for many years. The story looks at what it means to find yourself, how cultures clash, and how people interact as Quentin tries to start a new life while thinking about his family and what they expect of him. When Quentin arrives in Córdoba, he's let down by the gloomy weather, which doesn't match the sunny memories he has of the town. On the train, he meets different people, including a curious Frenchman, showing how Spanish people and foreigners can misunderstand each other. Back at his family's house, Quentin is welcomed by his mother and siblings and begins to remember his childhood, even as he questions where he truly belongs. The opening scenes set the stage for a journey of self-discovery, made up of funny conversations and thoughtful reflections on where he came from and what he hopes to achieve.

Pío Baroja y Nessi was a Spanish writer, one of the key novelists of the Generation of '98. He was a member of an illustrious family. His brother Ricardo was a painter, writer and engraver, and his nephew Julio Caro Baroja, son of his younger sister Carmen, was a well-known anthropologist.