Manso friend

Author: Galdós
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: Professor Maximiliano Mancos is a reserved, melancholic, and thoughtful scholar. With his common sense and patience, he transforms the son of the neighborhood butcher, Manuel, into a well-read and refined young man. Meanwhile, out of compassion and affection, he helps the orphan Irene by introducing her to his brother José's house as a governess. Gradually, his pity for her evolves into passionate love, but his rational and reserved scholar's demeanor prevents him from expressing his feelings openly. He only secretly protects the woman he loves, saving her from the scheming José. Unbeknownst to him, Irene, who had suffered poverty since childhood, falls in love with the socialite Manuel for his high society aspirations. When the truth comes to light, Mancos endures the pain of losing love and does everything in his power to remove obstacles from the path of love between the young couple. In the end, Manuel and Irene unite happily, but their noble and kind friend, Mancos, dies of exhaustion.