Victus: The Fall of Barcelona, a Novel
4.5/5
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About this ebook
A #1 international bestseller reminiscent of the works of Roberto Bolaño, Carlos Ruiz Zafon, and Edward Rutherford—a page-turning historical epic, set in early eighteenth-century Spain, about a military mastermind whose betrayal ultimately leads to the conquest of Barcelona, from the globally popular Catalonian writer Albert Sánchez Piñol.
Why do the weak fight against the strong? At 98, Martí Zuviría ponders this question as he begins to tell the extraordinary tale of Catalonia and its annexation in 1714. No one knows the truth of the story better, for Martí was the very villain who betrayed the city he was commended to keep.
The story of Catalonia and Barcelona is also Martí’s story. A prestigious military engineer in the early 1700s, he fought on both sides of the long War of the Spanish Succession between the Two Crowns—France and Spain—and aided an Allied enemy in resisting the consolidation of those two powers. Politically ambitious yet morally weak, Martí carefully navigates a sea of Machiavellian intrigue, eventually rising to a position of power that he will use for his own mercenary ends.
A sweeping tale of heroism, treason, war, love, pride, and regret that culminates in the tragic fall of a legendary city, illustrated with battle diagrams, portraits of political figures, and priceless maps of the old city of Barcelona, Victus is a magnificent literary achievement that is sure to be hailed as an instant classic.
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Reviews for Victus
3 ratings2 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5One reviewer said the author compares to Roberto Bolano. Simply, no! He doesn't. That's not to say that Victus is a bad book. It is a well written piece of historical fiction. But it is not a novel of depth or unusual creativity. It's an easy and "page-turning" read. Worthwhile read but not without some editing problems. Some details are seemingly mixed up and the author seems to go a bit too far to make his narrator witness to everything. Lower your expectations and enjoy.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Great, great book! A must.