The Fountains of Silence
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- €5.99
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- €5.99
Publisher Description
A haunting and romantic novel set in post-war Spain by Ruta Sepetys - winner of the Carnegie Medal 2017.
Madrid, 1957.
Daniel, young, wealthy and unsure of his place in the world, views the city through the lens of his camera.
Ana, a hotel maid whose family is suffering under the fascist dictatorship of General Franco.
Lives and hearts collide as they unite to uncover the hidden darkness within the city.
A darkness that could engulf them all . . .
Master storyteller Ruta Sepetys once again shines light into one of history's darkest corners in this epic, heart-wrenching novel about identity, unforgettable love and the hidden violence of silence.
'Ruta Sepetys is a master of historical fiction' Elizabeth Wein, author of CODE NAME VERITY
**PRAISE FOR THE FOUNTAINS OF SILENCE**
Longlisted for the Carnegie Medal 2021
'Spain under Francisco Franco is as dystopian a setting as Margaret Atwood's Gilead' New York Times
'A staggering tale of love, loss and national shame' Entertainment Weekly
'Gripping. Ruta Sepetys is the finest writer of historical fiction working today' The Wall Street Journal
'Captivating, deft, and illuminating historical fiction.'
Booklist
'A stunning novel that exposes modern fascism and elevates human resilience.'
Kirkus
'An exemplary work of historical fiction.'
The Horn Book
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Sepetys (Salt to the Sea) again deftly explores a painful chapter in history, this time Franco's Madrid. In 1957, 18-year-old Daniel, an aspiring photojournalist from Texas, visits Spain with his Spanish mother and American oil tycoon father. After arriving, he hones his lens on the culture, in some cases capturing forbidden images that earn the wrath of the menacing Guardia Civil, and he forms a relationship with his enigmatic hotel attendant, Ana, and her family, who are barely surviving, in stark contrast to Daniel's family's affluence. The tension heightens as a mystery involving orphans unfolds and Daniel and Ana's magnetic romance progresses. The novel revolves around Ana's brother, Rafa, a bullfighting promoter; her cousin Puri, who works at an orphanage; a lecherous American ambassador; and an experienced newspaper bureau chief, who mentors Daniel. Sepetys skillfully conveys Spain's atmosphere under Franco who limited women's rights and squelched rebellion with a pervasive feeling of fear and economic oppression. Compelling primary source materials, such as memos from U.S. presidents, oral history excerpts, and even hotel brochures, precede some chapters and contextualize the narrative. This gripping, often haunting historical novel offers a memorable portrait of fascist Spain. Ages 12 up.
