The Invention of Morel,
by Adolfo Bioy Casares
Translated from the Spanish
by Ruth L. C. Simms
NYRB
La invención de Morel
was first published in 1940
103 pages
Literary fiction / Classic
Goodreads
Last month, I started rereading Ficciones, and realized I wanted to go deeper, but didn’t have time then to do so. So I am planning to go back to it in December.
In the meantime, this is November, with many book blogging events, for instance Novellas in November.
For the occasion, I decided to read a novella in translation that’s on my Classics Club list: The Invention of Morel. And I discovered in the excellent introduction by Suzanne Jill Levine (NYRB Classics edition) that its author, Adolfo Bioy Casares (1914-1999) was great friends with Jorge Luis Borges, who was also his mentor (and he wrote a prologue for this book). So I’m still in great company!
Despite its shortness, less than 100 pages, The Invention of Morel is packed with intriguing elements and themes. Their modernity is even more striking if you keep in mind that the book was published in 1940.
The story is set on a mysterious island (with an obvious reference to The Island of Dr. Moreau). A man pursued by the police manages to escape there. The book is his diary on the island. He is sure they won’t think of finding him in this deserted place, where a fatal disease won’t let you survive for more than a couple of weeks.
The unnamed narrator still decides to go there, as he is sure he can survive.
When he arrives, he finds remnants of civilization (a museum, a chapel, and a swimming pool), but no one lives there.
Until he does see a group of people. They interact and seem to be doing some secret experimentations, but somehow the fugitive seems invisible to them. Why? How can he reach out to a woman he falls in love with, in that group?
The explanation was unexpected, as a perfect illustration of the importance and possible dangers of perspective, of what we assume sometimes, and the madness it may lead to if you keep stuck there without trying to look at the issue from another angle. But who is mad here? The narrator? The people he sees?
I also liked how the unique love story was connected to the plot, and to the deeper themes of consciousness, identity, and immortality. And what’s the connection between body and soul?
With all the above, in the context of a harsh environment where the narrator is struggling to survive, the book is very dense and tense.
Powerful for the novella format!
I can’t but wonder what Casares would have come up with, if he had lived a few decades later and had knowledge of even more modern technology! And how he would have tried to make bridges between it and metaphysics.
Now I feel like rereading The Island of Dr. Moreau, and also other books mentioned in the introduction: The Turn of the Screw (yes, finally!) and L’Ève future [The Future Eve], written in 1886 by Villiers de l’Isle-Adam.
Might be good too to watch a few movies mentioned: Last Year at Marienbad (1961) and Man Facing Southeast (1985).
VERDICT: If you like it when fiction considers metaphysical questions, but are not ready for door stops, you need to try this classic novella!
HAVE YOU READ THIS BOOK?
Or watched the movies?
What’s your favorite novella in translation?
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS IN A COMMENT PLEASE
Words And Peace 
Goodness, you have me intrigued with this review! The modernity of the themes is one of the things which for me define a good classic story. But the plot! I almost have to read it now to find out how it all comes together.
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Yes, you definitely need to read it!
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I *have* read this and absolutely love it! If you like his writing, do try to track down Where There’s Love, There’s Hate which he wrote with Silvina Ocampo (if you haven’t already read it) – marvellous book!
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wooh, I read the synopsis, and it sounds so good, thanks! I have read only one book by Casares so far, so I welcome your suggestion!
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I was put on to this book from one of your previous posts – maybe your classics spin or classics list? Anyway, I added it to my TBR when I read that post. And reading this post now, I definitely am intrigued and want to read it for sure!
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Yes, definitely a must, plus it’s short
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This sounds like a book I’d love. And I’ve never heard about it until you shared it here. I recently heard a little about a book called Island by Aldous Huxley, and The Invention of Morel seems to be a bit like Island.
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I can’t remember where I heard about The Invention of Morel for the first time, but I see it from time to time on other bogs. BUT I had never heard of Huxley’s Island so on my way to check it out now. Thanks!
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Where do you get all these interesting books from? Sounds really good, and is already on my list. The problem is I cannot always find these books in Sweden. Maybe it is available as an e-book as well?
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I have been blogging for over 10 years, and I visit tons of other book blogs. So when I read about a good one, I add it to my TBR shelf on Goodreads. There are 1,025 right now there! Then, one day, I get to read some of these. We also have excellent public libraries in the US, for print and ebooks, and I can get a book from any library in the State of Illinois for free.
Yes, I can send you the ebook
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Emma, thank you for the book, very nice of you. I will write a review once it is read.
I think we don’t have that kind of service in Sweden. We can order from other libraries. However, they don’t have all of the massive production of books published abroad. Mostly, the most popular.
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So sad
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I might have to try this one. You’ve piqued my curiosity.
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Definitely a great one to try!
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Another world of a kind, and I loved it. A review will come soon.
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Great!
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Hello Emma, finally my review of The Invention of Morel is on-line. You will find it here: https://thecontentreader.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-invention-of-morel-by-adolfo-bioy.html
Many thanks for the copy you sent me. I really loved the book, and the somewhat weird, but interesting story. Definitely, a classic tale.
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Thanks for letting me know, on my way now
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