Saragossa · Chapters

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Chapter companions for Saragossa by Benito Pérez Galdós.

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Chapter 1
Epigraph
The epigraph, drawn from Napier's Peninsular War, foreshadows the enduring legacy of Zaragoza's heroic resistance, framing the city as a timeless monument of Spanish valor amidst the obscurity of history.
Chapter 2
Saragossa
The chapter 'Saragossa' from 'Saragossa: A Story of Spanish Valor' presents a vivid narrative of the siege of Saragossa, focusing on the heroic resistance of its inhabitants against the French forces. It details the intense battles, the strategic defense of the city, and the personal sacrifices of key figures like Augustine Montoria and Mariquilla Candiola. The chapter highlights themes of patriotism, love, and the brutal dehumanization of war, while chronicling pivotal events such as the Battle of the Suburb, the fall of San José, and the ultimate surrender of the city.
Chapter 3
I
The narrator and three companions, having escaped from French captivity, arrive in Saragossa on the evening of the eighteenth. Exhausted and nearly penniless, they wander the city and take shelter among the ruins of the monastery of Santa Engracia, where they encounter beggars. Don Roque, one of the group, mentions his old friend Don José de Montoria, a wealthy citizen of Saragossa, and plans to seek his help the next day.
Chapter 4
II
The narrator and Don Roque, accompanied by two others, are guided through the ruined streets of Saragossa by a loquacious beggar named Sursum Corda. Despite their hunger and impatience, Sursum Corda regales them with vivid tales of the recent siege, recounting the heroic deeds of various patriots, the destruction of buildings, and the fierce fighting against the French. Eventually, he leads them to the house of Don José de Montoria.
Chapter 5
III
Don José de Montoria is not at home, so Don Roque and the narrator (Don Araceli) travel to his country house (torre) outside Saragossa. They find him cutting down olive trees as part of the defensive preparations for a second siege. Montoria welcomes them with brusque, generous hospitality, feeding them abundantly. He then shows them the fortifications being built in the western part of the city, including the battery at Portillo and the walls connecting convents. The chapter highlights Montoria's patriotic sacrifice and the makeshift nature of Saragossa's defenses.

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Epigraph

Saragossa

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III