Book review of Fernando Aramburu, Patria

Abstract

The book ‘Patria’ (2016), by the author Fernando Aramburu, was a top-ten selling book in Spain and one of the most read books of 2017. The novel ‘Patria’ (meaning ‘Homeland’ in English) is centred on the Basque conflict, specifically on the conflict´s last two decades from the 1990s until the declaration of the ceasefire in 2011 by the terrorist organization ETA (an acronym for what translates into ‘Freedom for the Basque Country’). The book sparked a high level of interest due to a social process of ‘lessening tension’, that the Basque people have experienced since the peace process began. The novel’s success is congruent to this social process, as it details the post-conflict Basque society. By ‘postconflict’ society we understand the non-existence of armed actions based on political motivations. Nevertheless, ‘Patria’ explains the importance of how the non-existence of armed actions does not necessarily mean the end of the conflict.