{{Short description|Novel by Ursula K. Le Guin}} {{use dmy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox book | name = Malafrena | title_orig = | translator = | image = Malafrena cover.jpg | caption = Cover of first edition (hardcover) | author = Ursula K. Le Guin | illustrator = | cover_artist = Michael Mariano | country = United States | language = English | series = | subject = | genre = Fantasy literature | publisher = Berkley Publishing Corporation | pub_date = 1979 | english_pub_date = | media_type = Print (Hardcover and Paperback) | pages = 369 (First edition) | isbn = 0-399-12410-1 | isbn_note = (First edition, hardcover) | dewey= 813/.5/4 | congress= PZ4.L518 Mal 1979 PS3562.E42 | oclc = 4805125 | preceded_by = | followed_by = }}
'''''Malafrena''''' is a 1979 novel by Ursula K. Le Guin. The only fantastic element of this novel is that it takes place in the imaginary Central European country of Orsinia, which is also the setting of her collection ''Orsinian Tales''.
In many ways, ''Malafrena'' reads like a 19th-century novel, with its many detailed characters, its political and romantic subplots, its lack of the supernatural, and its settings that range from the mansions of the aristocracy to slums and a prison. ''Malafrena'' is written for an adult audience, rather than children and young adults, the target readership of most of Le Guin's works in the period of 1979–1994.<ref name=Cadden-2005>{{cite book |last = Cadden |first = Mike |year = 2005 |title = Ursula K. le Guin Beyond Genre: Fiction for children and adults |place = New York, NY |publisher = Routledge |edition = 1st |isbn = 0-415-99527-2 |pages = 30, 114, 153}}</ref>{{rp|style=ama|p= 114}}
== Plot summary == The story takes place from 1825 to 1830, when Orsinia is ruled by the Austrian Empire. The hero is ''Itale Sorde'', the son of the owner of an estate on a lake called Malafrena in a valley of the same name. Itale leaves the estate, against his father's will, to engage in nationalistic and revolutionary politics in the capital.
== Characters == * Itale Sorde: The protagonist of the story. * Laura Sorde: Itale's sister. * Guide Sorde: Itale's father. * Emanuel Sorde: Itale's uncle. * Eleonora: Itale's mother. * Tomas Brelavay: School friend and collaborator in Krasnoy. * Givan Frenin: School friend and collaborator in Krasnoy. * Count Orlant Valtorskar: Neighbor and family friend. * Piera Valtorskar: Neighbor and family friend. * Luisa Paludeskar: A young noble woman in Krasnoy. * Enrike Paludeskar: Luisa's brother. * Amadey Estenskar: A writer from Polana province.
== Literary significance and criticism == Mike Cadden notes that ''Malafrena'' has not received as much critical attention as many of le Guin's other works, primarily because the characters in the story do not connect well with one another.<ref name=Cadden-2005/>{{rp|style=ama|p= 30}} An imperceptible, omniscient author is used to tell the story, and le Guin herself acknowledges one of the strongest influences on her Orsinian works is Russian literature.<ref name=Cadden-2005/>{{rp|style=ama|p= 153}}
In a review of ''Malafrena'',<ref name=Ares/> Greg Costikyan commented that : "''Malafrena'' seems to say that visionaries are often or usually destroyed, and though tragic, this must always be the case, for humanity cannot progress without them."<ref name=Ares>{{cite magazine |last = Costikyan |first = Greg |author-link = Greg Costikyan |date = January 1981 |title = Books |magazine = Ares Magazine |issue = 6 |page = 30 }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|25em}}
{{Ursula K. Le Guin}}
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Category:1979 American novels Category:1979 English-language novels Category:1979 fantasy novels Category:Novels by Ursula K. Le Guin Category:Novels set in the 1820s Category:Berkley Books books Category:Novels set in fictional countries