Here is our suggested list of mustread barcelona fiction books. The time of the doves merce rodoreda set before, during and after the confli. For many spain is a destination for a beach holiday but it is so much more. The best fiction and non fiction books set in barcelona. Forty years later the ghosts of the decisions taken back then, during world war ii, will come back to haunt the families involved. Daniel falls in love with the story and begins on a quest to discover his idols other literary works and his personal history. The best book of historical fiction set in barcelona so far and one of my favorite novels about. The illustrations in the book are almost as good as the reallife buildings, and the authors words help craft gaudis vibrant story on the pages, much as he created buildings in real life. Jan 30, 2012 main setting of the book must be in the country it is listed under nonfiction books will not be allowed, unless there is no fiction book for a particular country. Guidebooks and nonfiction books about barcelona, catalonia and spain, as well as fiction and literature set in the city. The action spans the years between barcelonas two economically disastrous worlds fairs of 1888 and 1929. These fun facts will give you a place to start when you think about learning more. The angels game 2008, the prisoner of heaven 2011 and the labyrinth of the spirits 2016. Cathedral of the sea is a historical fiction set in xiv century barcelona, during the construction of the citys big pride a cathedral santa maria del mar and during its most shameful period the inquisition.
I will be visiting barcelona for a few days next week and was looking for some suggestions of good novels set in the city plane reading and to get a sense of the history without the dryness of a history book. Here is the spain scoop on some of our faves, both fiction and nonfiction books, about spain in english. This tale is partly set in ireland, party in barcelona and partly in the catalan mountains. I have to mention the shadow of the wind by carlos ruiz zafon. Here is the spain scoop on some of our faves, both fiction and non fiction books, about spain in english. The novel is set in the aftermath of the spanish civil war, and, as an ultimately gothic literary thriller, it deals with mystery, murder, madness and doomed love.
This tale is partly set in ireland, party in barcelona and partly in the catalan. There are fantastic cities think of madrid, barcelona, cadiz, cordoba, granada, santander, and valencia and a country that is absolutely steeped in history, from the invading moors from north africa, through the middle ages. One unique city, ten revealing stories a contemporary collection of short stories inspired by barcelona, its history, its legends and its people including. Enliven your trip planning with some good reading, with our selection of fiction books set in barcelona. The psychological cost of spains civil war is at the heart of this unsentimental tale of a revolutionary haunted by his past. Books set in barcelona barcelona message board tripadvisor. Set in postwar barcelona, this novel follows the journey of a young boy, daniel sempere, who comes across a rare book written by a talented, but unknown, catalan author. Any book which stephen king calls, one gorgeous read, has to be worth a look. The book is an essential guide to the history and culture of barcelona for those interested in the architecture and art of the city, as well as its place in the spanish economy. Prepare for your barcelona trip by reading up on these writers, who choose the. A novel set in barcelona during the early part of the 20th century, which combines intrigue with historical fiction.
By bestselling author dan brown, origin is a 2017 mystery thriller novel. Be it a romantic novel or a brainy essay, is there a better way of preparing a trip to a city than reading a. Barcelona, plays the role of a magical, main character in this historical novel. Set in barcelona, fiction buy shadow of the wind the shadow of the wind the cemetery of forgotten book 1 the bestselling cycle of books by spanish author carlos ruiz zafon are the shadow of the wind, the angels game and the prisoner of heaven. These 25 books do a bit of both, and represent the most powerful reading experiences weve had all year. The book does not read as easily as the before mentioned novels, but its high. Sarah dunants epic novel of sixteenthcentury renaissance italy is a story about the sins of pleasure and the pleasures of sin, an intoxicating mix of fact and fiction, and a dazzling portait of one of the worlds greatest cities at its most potent moment in history. The breathtaking historical novel about love, beauty, the politics of sex and the power of loyalty set in venice. The welltraveled george orwell is best known for his books animal farm and nineteen eightyfour. More childrens books about spain that are part of a series a childrens activity book about spain and gaudi. This bestselling thriller is set in 1950s barcelona.
Sorry if this is a bit late, but you can look no further than carlos ruiz zafon. Youve written nonfiction about spainhomage to barcelonaand your novel. Maybe its the weather, or maybe its something in the water, but theres. Books set in barcelona barcelona forum tripadvisor. In that case, narrative nonfiction like autobiographies and travel stories are preferred. Main setting of the book must be in the country it is listed under nonfiction books will not be allowed, unless there is no fiction book for a particular country. Apr 23, 2020 a novel set in barcelona during the early part of the 20th century, which combines intrigue with historical fiction. Aug 05, 2015 the illustrations in the book are almost as good as the reallife buildings, and the authors words help craft gaudis vibrant story on the pages, much as he created buildings in real life. Wilsons popular police thrillers, including this one, are set in spain and portugal. It is a little dense at first and the names are hard to remember but for an overview of barcelonas significance you cant get better than robert hughes direct and. Score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. While the book explores the artist as a nontraditional man, this volume will certainly become a traditional fixture in your home.
These books havent been added to the official directory below, so click on them to go to amazon and find out more. The book is perfect to understand the life of barcelona between the universal expositions of 1888 and 1929. The book opens with the body of stuart pedrell, an important entrepreneur, turning up in a marginalized part of town, having been stabbed to death. A compilation of the best books fiction and non fiction based in barcelona, one of the most enchanting cities in the world. The following 29 pages are in this category, out of 29 total.
Born in india he spent some of his life in barcelona during the spanish civil war and from his time there the book homage to catalonia 1938 was born. A city slowly heals in the aftermath of the spanish civil war, and daniel, an antiquarian book dealers son who mourns the loss of his mother, finds solace in a mysterious book entitled the shadow of the wind, by one. This collection of essays from numerous authors creates an appealing overview of spain and its people. Background reading and inspiration on the catalan capital. She becomes an artist and finds herself a catalan lover. Go back to barcelona, madrid, granada, and even take a sojourn further afield in morocco. Charming novel set in brittany the last hours of a love affair. These ages have giving the place a distinct identity of its own, one that is captured brilliantly in the following books.
If youre short on time, these are my personal picks for books set in barcelona. List of fiction books by european setting the europe. It is a collection of 17 quirky, funny, and witty short stories set on and around the island of tenerife. The plot is complex, but at its heart is the notion that all books, even forgotten books, have the potential to transform the lives of.
A beautiful wooden city that you know is going to be bombed during world war ii. Its been a crazy 12 months in the world, and now more than ever, were looking to fiction to give us an escape, or even to help us make sense of things. The book was translated into english in 2004 by lucia graves and sold over a million copies in the uk after already achieving success on mainland europe, topping the spanish bestseller lists for weeks. Stories from spain genevieve barlow and william stivers, 1999. Search our database for travelrelated fiction, travelogues, and memoirs. Pages in category novels set in barcelona the following 29 pages are in this category, out of 29 total. Carlos ruiz zafon has written a couple of great books set in 1920s1940s barcelona, shadow of the wind and a prequel, the angels game. Apr 01, 2019 i bet you dont expect to find dinosaurs, talking seals, and black holes in fiction books set in spain. The story opens in 1945 in barcelona, a city recovering from the spanish civil war. Its the story about two parisian ladies renee, a concierge, and paloma, a genius 12 year old, both of whom conform to image society has said they should conform to whilst being quite someone else when no one is watching.
Barcelona 2020 best books set in barcelona, spain, best. Dec 06, 2016 any book which stephen king calls, one gorgeous read, has to be worth a look. Pepe carvalho, our excia agent protagonist, investigates what the deceased had been up to for the last year of his life and thereby unearths a mess, set to the backdrop of spains generalized. The civil war and its aftermath also features in barcelona writer victor del arbols the sadness of the samurai 2011, set in a pronazi spain in 1941 where betrayal and love mingle in the newly fascist state.
Perhaps one of the best classics set on the french riviera is f scott fitzgeralds tender is the night. Fitzgerald was a huge francophile, living in paris at the same time as ernest hemingway they became firm friends and he. Practically every building of any size had been seized by the workers and was draped with red flags or with the red and black flag of the. Readers follow nearly 1,000 years of spanish history in brief short stories printed in spanish and english. I bet you dont expect to find dinosaurs, talking seals, and black holes in fiction books set in spain. If you liked it, dont miss its sequels, which despite sharing some characters and settings, can be read independently. Jun 22, 2011 sorry if this is a bit late, but you can look no further than carlos ruiz zafon. Jun 08, 2011 10 of the best books set in barcelona malcolm burgess, publisher of the citylit series, selects his favourite reads for the catalan capital from george orwell to juan goytisolo as.
The shadow of the wind is set in postwar barcelona, the city which, arguably, suffered most at the hands of the fascists. Set in the grimmer parts of barcelona, this is the only film that i have ever openly sobbed through. This is a fantastic book, particularly when read in the original spanish. Novels and mysteries set in spain spain forum tripadvisor. Oct 01, 2015 the story opens in 1945 in barcelona, a city recovering from the spanish civil war. Guidebooks and non fiction books about barcelona, catalonia and spain, as well as fiction and literature set in the city. Kids books set in spain overview of the country of spain. Gabriel garcia marquez meets umberto eco meets jorge luis borges for a sprawling magic show.
Dive back in time with the best historical fiction in spain. The elegance of the hedgehog is frequently cited as the best book set in paris. An awesome collection of childrens books set in spain. Dec 04, 2017 its been a crazy 12 months in the world, and now more than ever, were looking to fiction to give us an escape, or even to help us make sense of things. Oct 29, 2018 the civil war and its aftermath also features in barcelona writer victor del arbols the sadness of the samurai 2011, set in a pronazi spain in 1941 where betrayal and love mingle in the newly fascist state. The irish born main character, katherine, arrives in barcelona in the 1950s. A compilation of the best books fiction and nonfiction based in barcelona, one of the most enchanting cities in the world. Books set in barcelona, cannesnice, pisa, rome, or. This list may not reflect recent changes learn more. Write us about your favorite books on spain so we can add them to our personal reading lists. Belle epoque a sweet romantic tale set in the pre civil war period, made in the early 90s and buitiful. Your story in this weeks issue, summer of 38, is set in spain, partly during the spanish civil war. Best books set in barcelona, spain 2019, best books to read about barcelona on vacation in barcelona.
Regarded by many as the greatest novel written about the spanish civil war. Excellent writing, mysteries involving books, and very interesting reading. Young daniel is taken by his father to the cemetery of forgotten books, where he finds a tattered book written. Barcelona is a vibrant city with a rich and varied history dating back well over 2000 years. The novels are indexed so you can look by author, city, region, and even current or historical fiction. Origin, don quixote, the angels game, isla and the happily ever after, the gentlemans guide to vice and vi. Best books set in barcelona, spain, best books and novels to read. Frommers easyguide to madrid and barcelona 2014 easy guides. Exploring the metro, las ramblas and the labyrinthine alleys of the barrio gotico you go in search of an elusive spanish beauty in a. I will be visiting barcelona for a few days next week and was looking for some suggestions of good novels set in the city plane reading and to. While the book explores the artist as a nontraditional man, this volume will certainly become a. Books about barcelona and spain read these first the. Eventually, they move into the pyrenees and share a life isolated from the rest of the world.
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