«The Hive» in Spanish with a Parallel Translation

The Hive is a novel written by the Spanish author Camilo José Cela, first published in 1950. The novel is set in Madrid in 1942. The story is set in a cafe owned by a fat hostess named Doña Rosa. Several dozen characters meet in the café, they cross their paths only for a moment, and then disappear somewhere in Madrid. The novel contains a great deal of reflection on life of all kinds, from unremarkable trivialities to absolutely serious topics.