Vicente Blasco Ibáñez is often remembered for epic novels, but 'El préstamo de la difunta' shows his mastery of the short, potent tale. It's a story that lingers, not with shouts, but with a whisper of doubt and duty.

The Story

A man sits by his wife's deathbed. In her final moments, she makes him promise to take a large sum of money—her personal savings—and give it to someone. He swears. Then, she dies. The name of the recipient dies with her. The story follows the husband as he is left with this ghostly burden. He can't simply keep the money; his honor and love for her won't allow it. So begins a painstaking investigation into his own life. He sifts through their shared past, examines old acquaintances, and revisits long-forgotten conversations, looking for a clue. Was it a forgotten favor? A hidden sorrow? A secret friend? Every potential recipient he considers opens a new window into who his wife really was, often revealing sides of her he never saw.

Why You Should Read It

This isn't a spooky ghost story. The 'ghost' here is the unresolved, the unspoken, the promise left hanging. The real tension comes from watching a good man wrestle with an impossible task. Blasco Ibáñez writes with such clear, direct prose that you feel the husband's growing frustration and devotion. The mystery of the money becomes a mirror. It reflects the fundamental mystery of knowing another person, even someone you love. How well can we ever truly know someone? The story asks quiet, profound questions about memory, guilt, and the debts we carry—both financial and emotional—long after someone is gone.

Final Verdict

Perfect for readers who love character-driven stories with a clever central idea. If you enjoy tales that explore moral dilemmas or the quiet complexities of relationships, this will stick with you. It's also a fantastic, accessible entry point into classic Spanish literature. You can read it in one sitting, but you'll think about it for much longer. A small, perfect gem of a story.