Gonzalo Torrente Ballester was highly regarded in Spain even during his lifetime and was considered a national treasure. He received many awards, including the Miguel de Cervantes Prize.
“Don Juan” is a blend of various literary influences, from Goethe’s “Faust” to Bulgakov’s “The Master and Margarita.” It tells of a hero whose consciousness moves between the XX and XVII centuries because of a curse laid on him by the famous seducer Don Juan. The novel is divided into two layers of reality: in one, the hero tries to escape the spell’s power and win over the girl charmed by Don Juan; in the other, Don Juan narrates his adventures and the reasons he killed the Commander.