Books Burn Badly
Books Burn Badly by Manuel Rivas, published by Vintage Books in 2011, is a reprint edition that spans 548 pages. This work presents a vivid narrative set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War, beginning with a pivotal moment on 19 August 1936 when Hercules the boxer witnesses Fascist soldiers burning books. This event marks a transformation for a group of friends, propelling them into a world marked by conflict and loss.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of interconnected stories that explore the impact of war on various characters, including Hercules and a young washerwoman who perceives deeper meanings in her surroundings. The narrative delves into themes of coming of age and the historical context of 20th-century Spain, illustrating how the lives of individuals are irrevocably altered by the turmoil of their times. Through these characters, Rivas captures the essence of a generation shaped by adversity, ensuring that their stories endure beyond the flames that consume their books.
Official synopsis Publisher
On 19 August 1936 Hercules the boxer stands on the quayside at Coruna and watches Fascist soldiers piling up books and setting them alight. With this moment a young carefree group of friends are transformed into a broken generation.
Out of this incident during the early months of Spain’s tragic civil war, Manuel Rivas weaves a colourful tapestry of stories and unforgettable characters to create a panorama of twentieth-century Spanish history. For it is not only the lives of Hercules the boxer and his friends that are tainted by the unending conflict, but also those of a young washerwoman who sees souls in the clouded river water and the stammering son of a judge who uncovers his father’s hidden library.
As the singed pages fly away on the breeze, their stories live on in the minds of their readers.
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