Swifts

The novel by Fernando Aramburu "Swifts" was published five years after his famous "Homeland," translated into 34 languages and bringing the author worldwide fame. To the surprise of many, this time the writer sharply changed not only the theme but also the writing style. The hero of "Swifts," fifty-year-old philosophy teacher Toni, seemingly for no obvious reason decides to end his life. He sets an exact date for his own death, giving himself a year to complete his affairs. It is then that he begins to keep a diary, where each evening he describes the events of the past day and also reconstructs the story of his life. The goal of the diary is to get to know himself and understand why he so irrevocably no longer wants to remain on this earth. The diary is extremely candid, in it Toni unabashedly pours out his innermost feelings, uncovers the motives for his most unsightly actions, and reflects on the nature of happiness, love, friendship, and family relationships.