Resumen
La busca is the first novel in Pío Baroja’s La lucha por la vida trilogy, which vividly portrays the harsh life of Madrid’s urban poor at the turn of the 20th century.
The story follows Manuel, a young boy recently arrived from the provinces, as he struggles to find his place in a society marked by poverty, crime, and moral decay.
Wandering through slums, workshops, and back alleys, Manuel encounters a cast of characters who reflect the desperation and rough dignity of the city’s underclass.
With stark realism and empathetic observation, Baroja captures the struggle for survival in a world where hope is scarce and the future uncertain.