If you're tired of predictable plots, 'Niebla' is your antidote. Miguel de Unamuno throws out the rulebook in this 1914 novel, creating something he called a 'nivola'—his own playful term to signal this wasn't going to be a regular old novel.

The Story

We meet Augusto Pérez, a wealthy, thoughtful, and hopelessly romantic young man. After his mother dies, he feels adrift. His life changes when he sees a beautiful woman, Eugenia, walking down the street. He becomes obsessed, building an entire fantasy future around her without really knowing her at all. His pursuit is clumsy, philosophical, and often hilarious. But as his real-world plans fall apart, Augusto starts to have a crisis. He begins to doubt his own existence, wondering if he's just a character in a book. So, he does the only logical thing: he travels to Salamanca to have a chat with his creator, a certain writer named Miguel de Unamuno. Their meeting is one of the most famous and bizarre in all of literature.

Why You Should Read It

This book is a blast. Unamuno writes with a wink, poking fun at literary conventions and romantic ideals. Augusto is frustrating but relatable—we've all gotten lost in our own heads. The genius is how Unamuno uses this strange setup to ask real questions. What is free will? Do we control our lives, or are we following a script? By having his character rebel, Unamuno makes these huge ideas feel personal and urgent. It's not dry philosophy; it's a living, breathing argument happening right on the page.

Final Verdict

'Niebla' is perfect for anyone who loves books that play with form and mess with your head. If you enjoyed the metafiction of writers like Kurt Vonnegut or the existential questions in Sartre's plays, you'll find a brilliant, earlier cousin here. It's also surprisingly short and accessible. Don't let the 'classic' label scare you—this is a witty, inventive, and deeply human story that feels as fresh and provocative today as it did over a century ago. Just be prepared: you might start side-eyeing your own author.