Barcelona novels?
Sep 28th, 2010, 09:29 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,142
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Barcelona novels?
I just came back from a great trip to Spain and absolutely fell in love with Barcelona. I would love to read more about its history, or simply books that are set in Barcelona.
Does anyone have suggestions for books set in Barcelona, or the rest of Spain, either historical fiction or plain old fiction?
I went into bookstores while I was there, I was also in Sevilla, Granada & Madrid, and was looking for books from Spanish novelists translated in English, but didn't have any luck. Thought I'd try my luck here.
Thanks
Does anyone have suggestions for books set in Barcelona, or the rest of Spain, either historical fiction or plain old fiction?
I went into bookstores while I was there, I was also in Sevilla, Granada & Madrid, and was looking for books from Spanish novelists translated in English, but didn't have any luck. Thought I'd try my luck here.
Thanks
Sep 28th, 2010, 09:44 AM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,920
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Carlos Ruiz Zafon - Shadow of the Wind.
Although it's not fiction - George Orwell's Homage to Catalonia.
But both of those are really focussed on the Civil War and Franco era - I'm not up on more modern literature.
Although it's not fiction - George Orwell's Homage to Catalonia.
But both of those are really focussed on the Civil War and Franco era - I'm not up on more modern literature.
Sep 28th, 2010, 11:08 AM
#4
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,605
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Another vote for Zafón's <i>Shadow of the Wind</i>. For our November trip to Barcelona, I bought his follow-up book, which is actually a prequel to Shadow, <i>The Angel's Time</i>.
There's a good list at BiblioTravel:
http://www.bibliotravel.com/locale.php?locale=440
There's a good list at BiblioTravel:
http://www.bibliotravel.com/locale.php?locale=440
Sep 28th, 2010, 11:16 AM
#5
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 6,629
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just finished The Angel's Game about a month ago. One of the strangest novels I have read but compelling and very evocative of Barcelona in the 20s and 30s. I liked it enough to plan to read The Shadow of the Wind. Club Dumas by Perez-Reverte is very good but might be set in Madrid.
Sep 28th, 2010, 11:39 AM
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,142
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
thanks for the suggestions, I did read "Shadow of the Wind" before I left, and in some ways, would like to re-read it now that I've been there. I'll look up Angel's Game.
That's the problem about traveling, then you want to know even more about those countries, and you have to buy more books.
That's the problem about traveling, then you want to know even more about those countries, and you have to buy more books.
Sep 28th, 2010, 11:41 AM
#7
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,561
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<<books from Spanish novelists translated in[to] English>>
Arturo Perez-Reverte
He is the author of the Alatriste novels (I read the first two, both short and intriguing), Club Dumas, The Seville Communion (which was fairly dull), The Fencing Master (which was fantastic) and more.
Arturo Perez-Reverte
He is the author of the Alatriste novels (I read the first two, both short and intriguing), Club Dumas, The Seville Communion (which was fairly dull), The Fencing Master (which was fantastic) and more.
Sep 28th, 2010, 06:55 PM
#10
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 250
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The bartender/part owner of our favorite wine bar spot highly recommended Cathedral of the Sea by Ilfonso Falcones. It is a historical novel framed around the building of Santa Maria del Mar. I picked it up the weekend after we got home and could not put it down. I highly recommend it!
Jubilada, I'm going to check out Gimenez-Bartlett.
Jubilada, I'm going to check out Gimenez-Bartlett.
Sep 28th, 2010, 07:59 PM
#11
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 26,710
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would highly recommend Robert Hughes's book simply called Barcelona. He is an art critic who offers lessons in history and culture in his own witty or acerbic style. It is anything but a standard text.
http://www.amazon.com/reader/0679743...ert%20hughes#_
http://www.amazon.com/reader/0679743...ert%20hughes#_
Sep 29th, 2010, 09:09 AM
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,142
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
thank you everyone, I already ordered Angel's Game and 2 of the novels by Alicia Gimenez-Bartlett (taking a gamble that I'll like them...getting free shipping from amazon )
I did see Cathedral of the Sea on Amazon, and was wondering about it....I've put it on my wish list.
Thank you again
)I did see Cathedral of the Sea on Amazon, and was wondering about it....I've put it on my wish list.
Thank you again
Sep 30th, 2010, 12:05 AM
#13
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 691
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I thought Javier Cercas' Soldiers of Salamis was a fantastic read. I see it was translated to English.
http://www.amazon.com/Soldiers-Salam.../dp/1582343845
http://www.amazon.com/Soldiers-Salam.../dp/1582343845
Sep 30th, 2010, 05:19 PM
#17
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,605
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<i>"That's the problem about traveling, then you want to know even more about those countries, and you have to buy more books."</i>
I agree but you could always go to your local library and save some $ for your next trip.
I can't believe I forgot about Robert Wilson's excellent books based on the detective Javier Falcon which are mostly based in Seville. They are well written, suspenseful and give a great sense of Seville.
I agree but you could always go to your local library and save some $ for your next trip.
I can't believe I forgot about Robert Wilson's excellent books based on the detective Javier Falcon which are mostly based in Seville. They are well written, suspenseful and give a great sense of Seville.
