La piedra angular

Emilia Pardo Bazán (1851-1921), a towering figure in Spanish literature, is best known for her pioneering role in introducing Naturalism to Spain. *La piedra angular* (The Cornerstone, 1891) is a profound and yet understudied novel that delves into the controversial topic of capital punishment and the figure of the executioner in late 19th-century Spain.

This edition brings to light Pardo Bazán's incisive analysis of the penal system, exploring the social and psychological dimensions of justice through the condemned and those who carry out the sentence. The novel serves as a powerful testament to her commitment to social critique, blending Naturalist observations of degradation, misery, and crowded urban environments with a burgeoning spiritualist phase in her work.

Through vivid character portrayals, particularly the executioner Juan Rojo and the philanthropic doctor Pelayo Moragas, Pardo Bazán presents a nuanced debate on the legitimacy of the death penalty, the role of heredity versus education in criminal behavior, and the possibility of redemption. This edition includes a preliminary study analyzing Pardo Bazán's life and work, the penal doctrines of her era, and the criminal anthropology theories debated at the time. A crucial read for understanding a period of intense intellectual and social transformation in Spain and the evolution of a literary genius.