Lead Review

• Book: Happy as a Partridge: Life and Love in Madrid
• Location: Madrid
• Author: Kate Boyle

Review Author: tripfiction

You may wonder what partridges have to do with Madrid? The phrase Happy as Larry translates into Spanish as Happy as a Partridge and if you want to know what it is in the local lingo, it is: Más feliz que una perdiz – there you have it!

This is a delightful account of Evie – or Eebee as the local Spanish call her – who gives up her dull job in England, astonishing her friends and embarks on a course (which she has won) to learn Spanish in the capital. I am learning a little Spanish (albeit Mexican Spanish) myself and it was nice to glean some insights into the culture and language, with a smattering of Spanish to make it feel auténtico. You will soon learn the difference between cañas, años and anos and mejillas and mejillones. You will find out what a Pijo is (to be found primarily in the Barrio de Salamanca area of the city). You will also learn a lot about Madrid as a city, the feel and uplifting nature of the streets are beautifully captured. After all, there is a saying that “…only heaven is better than Madrid“.

Eebee finds a job, at first as the only female, teaching English at a college for mechanics. Yes, there are many lewd encounters and the double entendres (just wondering how one might say that in Spanish! Oh, my sources tell me it is doble-sentidos!) Anyway, her mettle is tested by her class of young men, who en masse seem to have little more on their mind than making her feel uncomfortable and batter her with lecherous leers. Those niños descarados! However, plucky Eebee soon gets into her stride!

Beyond the classroom she finds plenty to keep her entertained and a bewildering array of young men to date. A quick trip back to the UK gives her a brief wobble but as she lands once more in Madrid for the start of the new year, her heart soars. Will she stay for love or will she return “home” for a sensible and good job offer…?

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