Translated by Amanda Hopkinson and Nick Caistor."The Devil and Miss Prym" is the last of a Coelho's trilogy that explores the parameters of Good and Evil and their impact on the human soul. In this story a stranger, battered and disheartened by the absolute worse that life can dish out, visits a small town with the intensions of carrying out an experiment aimed at assuaging some of his bitterness and pain. While in the village, he enlists the help of Miss Prym who, bored with small town living, sees an opportunity for escape; but at what cost? As the story unfolds the people of Viscos learn of the experiment and how they, collectively and individually, can benefit from it. It is Coelho's interrogation of the villagers' intentions that provides the reader with a glimpse of the dueling forces of good and evil.
The novel is very well translated from Spanish as I never felt that something was missing while reading it. The language is loaded with meaning and highly symbolic. "Viscos is just like any other village in the world and whatever happens there happens in every continent, city, camp, convent, wherever." This is the wisdom shared with Miss Prym by Berta, the village's aged sage who spends her days watching over the village in an effort to see any evil coming. I've always enjoyed Coelho's work and "The Devil and Miss Prym" is no different. This is a solid story that's easily read and internalized. Ultimately, what we learn about good and evil from this text sounds a lot simpler than I expected and much more easily articulated than done. This is a quick yet profound read. Highly Recommended.
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