Malafrena

Lore & Background

The story takes place from 1825 to 1830, when Orsinia is ruled by the Austrian Empire. The hero is Itale Sorde, son of the owner of an estate on a lake called Malafrena in a valley of the same name. Itale leaves the estate against his father's will to engage in nationalistic and revolutionary politics in the capital. The novel includes characters such as Itale's sister Laura, his father Guide, his uncle Emanuel, his mother Eleonora, school friends Tomas Brelavay and Givan Frenin, neighbors Count Orlant Valtorskar and Piera Valtorskar, young noblewoman Luisa Paludeskar and her brother Enrike, and writer Amadey Estenskar.

Reader's Guide

Malafrena has not received as much critical attention as many of Le Guin's other works, primarily because the characters do not connect well with one another, according to Mike Cadden. The story is told by an imperceptible, omniscient author, and Le Guin acknowledged Russian literature as a strong influence on her Orsinian works. In a review, Greg Costikyan commented that the novel seems to say that visionaries are often or usually destroyed, and though tragic, this must always be the case, for humanity cannot progress without them. The novel's only fantastic element is its imaginary setting, and it is notable as a departure from Le Guin's typical target readership of children and young adults during the 1979–1994 period.

Did You Know?

• The only fantastic element of Malafrena is that it takes place in the imaginary country of Orsinia.
• The novel is written for an adult audience, unlike most of Le Guin's works from 1979 to 1994.
• Le Guin acknowledged Russian literature as one of the strongest influences on her Orsinian works.