The Novel on the Tram

"The Novel on the Tram" by Benito Pérez Galdós is a story that shows how people's lives are connected and how stories can come to life in unexpected ways. It's about a narrator riding a tram in Madrid when his friend tells him a sad story about a countess, her gambling husband, and an evil butler. As the tram rolls on, the narrator gets really into the story. He starts to imagine the countess's problems and even thinks he sees characters from the story on the tram. This leads to funny mix-ups and shows how easily our imaginations can take over, blurring the line between what's real and what's not, as the narrator’s overactive imagination makes for misunderstandings. The book presents realistic ordinary events and the potential for dramatic and sorrowful situations.