"Gracias al Premio Internacional Rub©Øen Bonifaz Nu©Þno, en la categor©Øia de ensayo, el fil©Øologo narrador de estas p©Øaginas puede comprar su casa. Despu©Øes de toda una vida de desearla, de observarla, de acercarse a sus paredes de piedra y ladrillo rojo para descifrar el enigma de su atracci©Øon, logra por fin saberla suya, y en el momento en el que franquea el umbral como su due©Þno, reconoce en ella su destino, su lugar en el mundo, el espacio a la medida de sus gustos y de su concepci©Øon de la vida. La instalaci©Øon en esta vieja casona bogotana es un proceso paciente y, m©Øas que f©Øisico, reflexivo y memor©Øistico. Pues cada rinc©Øon, la madera de los pisos, los ba©Þnos, el comedor, la vajilla, la biblioteca, las habitaciones, la mansarda, incluso el barrio entrevisto por las ventanas, dan pie a un viaje fascinante por la vida del protagonista"--Page 4 of cover.

"Thanks to a prize-winning essay that earned him the Rub©Øen Bonifaz Nu©Þno International Award, the philologist who narrates these pages can buy the house of his dreams. After yearning for it, observing it, trying to decipher the attraction of its stone and red brick walls, he has finally made it his own. The moment he crosses its threshold, he recognizes it as his destiny, his place in the world, and the space best adapted to his tastes and outlook on life. Moving into the stately old house takes patience. More than a physical task, it is a reflexive and nostalgic endeavor. Every corner of the house--the wood floors, the bathrooms, the dining room, the china, the study, the bedrooms, the attic, even the neighborhood glimpsed through the windows--evokes a fascinating journey through the protagonist's life. We learn of his nomadic upbringing by his aunt, his intellectual obsessions, love of books and language, sexual fulfillment, discovery of the dark side of city life, and the tragedy that has shadowed him since childhood"--Publisher's website.