The purity of a pig

the long version

The Purity of a Pig is an economical but complex psychological novel, a skillful blend of tragedy and irony. It is the story of Sergi Vilalta, who is caught between his rigid principles as an uncompromising author and his overwhelming desire to write a novel in which all immoral acts are not only possible, but are perfectly natural, as manifestations of the vital human spirit. To fulfill his mission, Vilalta is forced to accept a grant from a "beneficent" foundation, which he at first mistrusts and later learns to despise. The force of the unfolding tragedy is seasoned, if not tempered, by a subtly administered yet relentless send-up of the literary industry.