Set in post-war Barcelona (1945), The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón (Carlos Ruiz Zafon – About | Carlos Ruiz Zafón Author – Official UK site) is a gothic mystery that follows Daniel Sempere, the son of an antiquarian bookseller. After losing his mother, Daniel is initiated into the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, a secret labyrinthine library where he ‘adopts’ a rare novel titled The Shadow of the Wind by the enigmatic Julián Carax.
Fascinated by the book, Daniel attempts to find other works by Carax, only to discover that a mysterious man calling himself Laín Coubert (the name of the devil in Carax’s novel) has been systematically tracking down and burning every copy of Carax’s books.
Over the next decade, Daniel uncovers a tragic history of murder, madness, and doomed love. He is aided by Fermín Romero de Torres, a sharp-witted former spy who has suffered under the brutal Inspector Francisco Javier Fumero.
Daniel’s own life begins to mirror the author’s. He falls in love with Beatriz ‘Bea’ Aguilar, whose father and brother oppose their relationship, much like the obstacles Carax faced with his secret love, Penélope Aldaya.
Daniel eventually learns the dark truth: Penélope and Julián were actually half-siblings, and their secret affair ended in her imprisonment and death during childbirth. The story culminates in a violent confrontation at the derelict Aldaya mansion, where the identities of Carax and his pursuer are finally revealed.
This is a hugely entertaining novel. Set against the backdrop of Franco’s Spain, it explores the lingering shadows and fear left by the Spanish Civil War. The narrative frequently uses the device of mirror events, where characters in the present repeat the mistakes and tragedies of those from the past. The plotting is brilliant whilst Zafón shows himself to be an accomplished prose stylist.
Those who love books and the joys of reading will take great pleasure in this work. Check if it is in stock at your local library by consulting the online catalogue here Home | South Lanarkshire Libraries (sllclibrary.co.uk)
544 pages in Weidenfeld & Nicolson
First published 2001
ISBN-13 : 978-1474609883
Carlos Ruiz Zafon