Diego del Alcázar, president of IE University, released his second novel, La idea de volver, which examines the role of technology in contemporary life. The book features a narrative that contrasts modern digital existence with rural settings.
The Plot
The novel follows Adrián, an academic based in New York City, who travels back to his childhood home in northern Spain. There, he encounters Fausto, a character living amidst the region’s mountains and natural landscape. Del Alcázar describes these two figures as opposing forces that both reflect aspects of his own personality.
The Author’s Perspective
Del Alcázar notes that readers often assume he aligns more closely with the academic character, Adrián, due to their shared generation and professional lifestyle. However, the author identifies more strongly with Fausto. Speaking from his office in Madrid, Del Alcázar characterizes the mobile phone screen as a modern equivalent to Plato’s cave, suggesting that technology serves as a caricature of current societal trends.
Current Status
The novel, published by Siruela, uses the interaction between the two protagonists to critique the influence of digital tools. Del Alcázar continues to lead IE University while maintaining his literary career.
Why it matters: This work highlights the growing tension between academic, high-paced professional environments and the desire for a return to nature. For readers in the Middle East and globally, it reflects a broader cultural conversation about how digital connectivity shapes identity and distances individuals from their physical environments.
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