Y Viva España

[tamaranth]

So this year tomorrow we're off to sunny Spain.

Can anyone recommend fiction set in Barcelona? Or good Spanish fiction?

Can any of you remember which Patrick O'Brian novel is partly set in Gibraltar?

Comments

[fraghag.livejournal.com]

It isn't fiction but I have just finished reading Driving Over Lemons: An Optimist in Andalucia by Chris Stewart (former drummer for Genesis). It is a sort of biography of how him and his wife set up their new life together and I really really enjoyed it and almost feel like running off to Andalucia to start again :D

[coven.livejournal.com]

Set in Barcelona:
The city of marvels, by Eduardo Mendoza (afaik the only one of his works translated into English). He is a bit of an acquired taste, and if the translation is bad I dread to think what it will be like. He's got a bit of magic realism, is a bit surreal too, and has some acid humour thrown in.

Other fiction...what do you favour? If it's escapism you're after, you might like Arturo Perez Reverte. He's now writing a series of novels set in 17th century Spain (Captain Alatriste series), but he started writing novels in which there was some form of artistic or historical mystery gsoh: The fencing master, The Flanders pannel, The Dumas club (++), The Seville communion (++). The queen of the South is another kettle of fish altogether (Mexican drug dealers).

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

I have a couple of Reverte novels -- The Fencing Master and another -- any idea if the translations are good? Will look out for Mendoza too!

[incy.livejournal.com]

Don Quiotxe...
Most things by Hemingway...
George Orwells Homage to Catalonia

[easterbunny.livejournal.com]

Barcelona: The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. I read it over Christmas and loved it.

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

aha, that sounds good! because shopping opportunities will be limited to what's at Gatwick, and this is relatively current, isn't it?

[easterbunny.livejournal.com]

Yep, should still be on the WH Smith top 10 or 20 shelf.

[zoo-music-girl.livejournal.com]

A virtual Park Guell features in one of William Gibson's novels, but I can't remember which one. [Googles]- Count Zero.

[drplokta]

As you know, quite a lot of the Aubrey/Maturin novels are partly set in Gibraltar -- the ones that come to mind immediately are the end of Master and Commander and the beginning of The Hundred Days.

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

the bit I'm thinking about has Stephen enthusing about apes. It is Research, honest!

[(Anonymous)]

The 'Pepe Carvalho' novels by Manuel Vazquez Montalban are set in Barcelona.

[surliminal.livejournal.com]

Gaudi Afternoon by Barbara Wilson - one of my faves.

[ivory-goddess.livejournal.com]

Thanks to reading this post shortly before leaving work, I had "Y Viva Espania" going round my head all the way home!

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

er ... sorry?

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Yay Barcelona! (And research.)

Master & Commander is partly set there, isn't it?