A Winter in Madrid

[JohnRoss]

Anyone read "A Winter in Madrid," by C. J. Sansom? It isn't "War and Peace," but it's a cracking read, and if you're interested in the Spanish Civil War is nicely atmospheric and very well researched.

(This is probably the wrong place to post, sorry, I haven't found the corner for English-language Spain-related stuff.)

[Juanjo]

Anyone read "A Winter in Madrid," by C. J. Sansom? It isn't "War and Peace," but it's a cracking read, and if you're interested in the Spanish Civil War is nicely atmospheric and very well researched.(sic!)


I found it lightweight and disappointing!:(

[JohnRoss]

Oh sure, it's lightweight to the point of banality, not that there's anything wrong with lightweight. I wasn't disappointed in that respect because I read the author's bio - a solicitor who has taken up writing historical crime novels. Personally, I like historical crime in moderate doses, but I don't expect great literature from it. No, what I did like about the book was the feel of post-war Madrid and the espionage particularly being historically well founded (including relatively new stuff, like the Brits bribing Franco's generals into opposing Spain's entry in World War II). Plus, there are repeated visits made in the novel to Carabanchel and he depicts it as a no-go area, poverty-ridden and dangerous, a hot-bed of revolution (up to there, probably 100% accurate), packed with desperate types who would any middle-class intruder. I live there and the picture frankly appealed to me.

[JohnRoss]

I found it lightweight and disappointing!:(
Ah, I've just spotted that "sic" (doesn't show up in my e-mail notification). You disagree about the "well researched," then?

[rod]

I enjoyed it. I bought it for a flight over here and it served that purpose particularly well - kept me entertained and interested through the airport wait and the flight and for some hours afterwards. Nothing wrong with a good genre novel.

My feeling was the author did just enough research to make the setting of the action credible, and for me it was, but then I'm not an expert. I'm sure there's very little original research there and it was mostly dependent on secondary sources, but I'd much rather read a secondhand account in the form of this entertaining novel, rather than the sections of lifeless prose on the events of the civil war in Jason Webster's book.

For me, the book did convey something of the sense of fear and dread following the civil war, and of the debased nature of the characters that inevitably rise to the top in such situations.

If I had a criticism, and without giving too much away I hope, it would just be that I felt the way the story was resolved was ever so slightly ludicrous. But that actually I thought was quite funny.

Not as good as Zafón's 'Shadow of the Wind', but I would still definitely recommend it as a good travelling book.

[Juanjo]

:)Ah, I've just spotted that "sic" (doesn't show up in my e-mail notification). You disagree about the "well researched," then?

Rod's comment sums it up nicely: "My feeling was the author did just enough research to make the setting of the action credible, and for me it was...". However for me it wasn't. The novel is of the same genre as Jason Webster's and many others that provide only a hint of background without necessarily understanding it (or it being necessary for the general reader to understand it of course). Having a special interest in la Guerra Civil, I find it sometimes frustrating to read such books. [I know.... that's my problem.... but you did ask for comments!:)]

[By the way, I empathize with your enjoying the book as you live in Carabanchel. Knowing locations intimately, bring novels to life provided they are described correctly. Thus for me my familiarity with the Costa del Sol and having visited Bucharest made reading "La reina del sur" (Pérez-Reverte) and "The Levant Trilogy" (Olivia Manning) even more enjoyable.]

"Different course for different horses....":)

[JohnRoss]

I'm sure there's very little original research there and it was mostly dependent on secondary sources, but I'd much rather read a secondhand account in the form of this entertaining novel, rather than the sections of lifeless prose on the events of the civil war in Jason Webster's book.

I don't think I had heard of Jason Webster before now, and now that I have, I'm not sure what to make of him.

If I had a criticism, and without giving too much away I hope, it would just be that I felt the way the story was resolved was ever so slightly ludicrous. But that actually I thought was quite funny.I think it's a variation on the ending of 'Silence of the Lambs,' only instead of the villain stepping off the plane to his doom, it's [spoiler removed].

Not as good as Zafón's 'Shadow of the Wind', but I would still definitely recommend it as a good travelling book.Isn't the ending of 'Shadow of the Wind' its weak point, as well? My sis-in-law has my copy so I can't check, but I remember finding it contrived. Anyway, yes, I completely agree - 'Winter in Madrid' is a good choice for a flight or train ride, not a great literary experience.

[JohnRoss]

:)Rod's comment sums it up nicely: "My feeling was the author did just enough research to make the setting of the action credible, and for me it was...". However for me it wasn't. The novel is of the same genre as Jason Webster's and many others that provide only a hint of background without necessarily understanding it (or it being necessary for the general reader to understand it of course). Having a special interest in la Guerra Civil, I find it sometimes frustrating to read such books. [I know.... that's my problem.... but you did ask for comments!:)]
Well, I don't know what sort of detail you feel is missing. I'm always pointing things out to my Madrileñan wife about the history of Madrid, including the Civil War - the front line was here, executions where held there, this building was bombed, the Nationalists mined under that street - in other words, I think I'm moderately well up on the subject, and I found the opposite.

Don't apologise for disagreeing, though - there would be no point in discussing anything if we were going to be in full accord.

[By the way, I empathize with your enjoying the book as you live in Carabanchel. Knowing locations intimately, bring novels to life provided they are described correctly. Thus for me my familiarity with the Costa del Sol and having visited Bucharest made reading "La reina del sur" (Pérez-Reverte) and "The Levant Trilogy" (Olivia Manning) even more enjoyable.]You enjoy Pérez-Reverte? I can't bear him myself, he has no craft as a novelist, writes like a schoolboy. I gave him a second chance when he brought out "Trafalgar" because I was interested in the subject, but it was dreadful, I couldn't finish it. So I don't know about "La Reina del Sur," maybe he's attended a workshop or two, but I doubt it. Olivia Manning, on the other hand, has been on my to-read list for decades.

[Juanjo]

You enjoy Pérez-Reverte? I can't bear him myself, he has no craft as a novelist, writes like a schoolboy. I gave him a second chance when he brought out "Trafalgar" because I was interested in the subject, but it was dreadful, I couldn't finish it. So I don't know about "La Reina del Sur," maybe he's attended a workshop or two, but I doubt it. Olivia Manning, on the other hand, has been on my to-read list for decades.

re Sansom- your knowledge of Madrid is better than mine, so I accept your opinion.

re Pérez-Reverte, it seems to me there is a difference in writing quality in his approach to historic and modern subjects. For example, I cannot stand the Alatriste series and agree with your assessment of "Trafalgar"'-I found it unreadable. Similarly "Un día de cólera" became repetitive and, at times just a list of names and thus boring. A pity because Goya´s magnificent works sparked my interest in the background of "el dos/tres de mayo".

However, his writings on more modern topics are generally more tightly written, perhaps using his journalistic background. So I enjoyed "La reina del sur" and "Territorio Comanche" although "Un asunto de honor" is a little trite at times. "La carta esférica" is reasonable but "El pintor de batallas" is so contrived it soon found its way to the wastebasket.

Camilo José Cela and Carmen LaForet he isn´t!;)