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

[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!