Jeffrey Oxford. PHOTO: Manuel Castells

Professor Jeffrey Oxford came to the University of Navarra to interview the writer and give the lecture "Lola MacHor: a reflection of Spanish culture"

He read Los crímenes del issue primo 'by chance' and ended up buying the rest of her work. Thus began the interest of Jeffrey Oxford, professor of Hispanic literature and culture at the University of Wisconsin, in the novels of intrigue of Reyes Calderón, dean of the University of Navarra's Economics Department School .

Now, the expert, whose research and teaching focus on contemporary Spanish novels and detective fiction, is conducting a study of this writer and visited the University of Navarra to interview her and fill in for a forthcoming book on her narrative.

He also gave a speech at lecture, organized by the department of Philology Hispánica, entitled"Lola MacHor: a reflection of Spanish culture", in reference letter to the protagonist of Reyes Calderón's novels of intrigue, including Hemingway's Tears, The Crimes of the issue cousin and The Last Patient of Dr. Wilson.

 "Contemporary Spanish detective fiction reflects the cultural changes in this country in recent decades. Literature, like the world, is increasingly global. Today the plot of much of this literature takes place in other countries in Europe, other continents and also in other centuries. But social criticism is still characteristic of this genre," said Oxford.

Novels with approach didactic

Regarding the work of Reyes Calderón, he pointed out that the author "seems to want to give it a didactic touch. In her books it is reflected that one of her wishes is that there be more compassion and understanding among people.

According to the U.S. expert, "Lola MacHor is not a typical crime novel character. She is, instead, representative of a flesh and blood person, with her pros and cons, her faith and her doubts, her abilities and her weaknesses: a Spanish woman in the late 20th century, early 21st century."

The researcher explained how his interest in Reyes Calderón's novels began. "I was doing a study on the Spanish religious detective novel. I bought in a bookshop all the books that seemed to have something to do with the topic, and among them was Los crímenes del issue primo. I read it and liked it a lot, so I bought the rest of his work."

Professor Oxford's study will become the first critical analysis of the literature of this Spanish author. Pending publication, the interview granted by Reyes Calderón will constitute the last chapter of the book that researcher is writing about her.