I stumbled upon this 1855 novel while looking for something completely different, and I'm so glad I did. 'La Gente Cursi' is a forgotten gem of social satire that feels surprisingly fresh.

The Story

The plot is simple but brilliant. The Villalobos family—a father who made his fortune in a way that's considered 'vulgar'—moves to Madrid with one goal: to be accepted by the aristocracy. They have money, but zero understanding of the unwritten rules of elegance and restraint. So, they try to manufacture it. They fill their house with overly ornate, mismatched furniture. The mother and daughters wear overly elaborate, garish outfits to every event. They adopt pretentious airs and try to speak in a way they think is refined, only to say the wrong thing constantly. The novel follows their series of spectacular social failures, from disastrous dinner parties to awkward encounters with the truly sophisticated families who quietly (and sometimes not so quietly) mock them.

Why You Should Read It

What I love is how Ortega y Frías isn't just making fun of the new rich. He's also poking fun at the snobs who look down on them. The book holds up a mirror to anyone who tries too hard to be something they're not. The characters are exaggerated, but you'll recognize pieces of them in people today—the social climber, the name-dropper, the person who buys the most expensive thing thinking it's automatically the best. Reading it, I kept thinking about modern 'influencer' culture and the performative aspects of life online. The settings and customs are 19th-century, but the anxiety about fitting in and the comedy of failed pretension are timeless.

Final Verdict

This book is perfect for anyone who enjoys witty social commentary, historical fiction that doesn't feel dusty, or comedies of error. If you like Jane Austen's eye for social nuance but wish it was a bit more openly farcical, you'll find a kindred spirit in Ortega y Frías. It's a quick, entertaining read that offers a funny and sharp look at the eternal human struggle between authenticity and aspiration. Just be prepared to cringe-laugh on behalf of the hopelessly tacky Villalobos family all the way through.