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Una heredera de Barcelona
La primera novela de uno de los periodistas más reconocidos del panorama cultural español. En la Barcelona de 1920 un joven abogado bien relacionado parece tener todas las cartas para saber qué se está cociendo en una ciudad a punto de reventar por las costuras: una cabaretera agredida que no cuenta todo lo que sabe; un líder anarquista que vacila entre el pactismo y la violencia; un general llegado a Barcelona para restituir el orden al precio que sea; y una bella, culta y decidida condesa que es también su confi dente... De la mano de Vilar avanzamos por un laberinto que nos lleva de las grutas de los miserables en Montjuïc a las fiestas de alta sociedad en los jardines de Horta; del Paralelo canalla y peligroso a los despachos policiales donde se urde la represión. Mientras la misma ciudad roza su cénit y se asoma al abismo, también Pablo teme que su juventud se esfume con el vendaval que se avecina.
Intriga, romance, confi dencias, claves históricas, personajes muy atractivos. Escrito con la precisión de quien conoce la época y los ambientes que describe magistralmente, y con el pulso narrativo de quien domina la técnica.
Intriga, romance, confi dencias, claves históricas, personajes muy atractivos. Escrito con la precisión de quien conoce la época y los ambientes que describe magistralmente, y con el pulso narrativo de quien domina la técnica.
300 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
20 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
Sergio Vila-Sanjuán
27 books6 followersSergio Vila-Sanjuán (b. 1957), one of Spain’s best-known cultural journalists, is the coordinator of the Cultura/s supplement of the newspaper La Vanguardia. Vila-Sanjuán has published several books on journalism and was commissioner of the Barcelona Year of the Book and Reading in 2005. His first novel, A Barcelona Heiress, inspired by historic events and by his discovery of a manuscript by his grandfather, received enthusiastic reviews and is currently being translated into several languages.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 9, 2020
Me ha gustado muchísimo la ambientación en la Barcelona de los años 20 y una parte de la trama, aunque algunos fragmentos del libro se me han hecho algo aburridos, tal vez por tratarse de un relato autobiográfico al que le falta la tensión narrativa de una obra de ficción.
May 4, 2013
Sergio Vila-Sanjuan's A Barcelona Heiress has all the ingredients for a great novel, following in the tradition of early 20th century writers such as F. Scott Fitzgerald and John Steinbeck. There is the hotbed of political unrest during the Crown-supported dictatorship of General Miguel Primo de Rivera, anarchists bombing Barcelona, a growing discontent of the country's poor and working classes.
Into this the author introduces a protagonist based upon his own family's history, an indigent aristocratic lawyer who moonlights as a reporter, and through the lens of that individual a series of seemingly disconnected characters and events.
All these elements could have been riveting, for certainly there is enough intrigue and danger in Spain's 20th century history to inspire even the most mundane minds. The execution, however, of that narrative tended to drag, partly because of long passages of exposition and political rhetoric, and partly because the author is so familiar with the history of which he's writing that he forgets to inform the reader. Historical characters walk on and off the page like old familiars, without giving the reader any reference or landmarks, which would be fine for a Spanish audience, but alas not for an English-speaking one, even one as familiar with Spain's history as this reviewer.
Transitions between scenes often runs to abruptness, leaving the reader adrift, although certainly the use of metaphor and language is accomplished. Overall, the novel needed the guidance of a good developmental editor, at least in this reviewer's opinion.
Worth reading? Indeed yes. Why? Because of the historical background if nothing else. Memorable? Not so much.
Into this the author introduces a protagonist based upon his own family's history, an indigent aristocratic lawyer who moonlights as a reporter, and through the lens of that individual a series of seemingly disconnected characters and events.
All these elements could have been riveting, for certainly there is enough intrigue and danger in Spain's 20th century history to inspire even the most mundane minds. The execution, however, of that narrative tended to drag, partly because of long passages of exposition and political rhetoric, and partly because the author is so familiar with the history of which he's writing that he forgets to inform the reader. Historical characters walk on and off the page like old familiars, without giving the reader any reference or landmarks, which would be fine for a Spanish audience, but alas not for an English-speaking one, even one as familiar with Spain's history as this reviewer.
Transitions between scenes often runs to abruptness, leaving the reader adrift, although certainly the use of metaphor and language is accomplished. Overall, the novel needed the guidance of a good developmental editor, at least in this reviewer's opinion.
Worth reading? Indeed yes. Why? Because of the historical background if nothing else. Memorable? Not so much.
September 16, 2012
Barcelona, Spain is on the verge of Civil War in the 1920s. The story of this multi-layered conflict is narrated by lawyer and journalist, Pablo Vilar. He's a man who in the name of both careers attempts neutrality in the conflicts but also a man who is constantly being swayed by partisan characters who want him to write articles favoring or defending one side against the other side. While he is not influenced that much, what he sees and hears is worthy of our attention, for it is the "stuff" of which revolutions have been made for centuries.
The eternal conflict between rich and poor is factually proven when Vilar is taken to the "caves" where the poor live and subsist on almost nothing or the private hospitals financially supported by those with a heart where starving, disease-ridden children are treated with the meager supplies of medicine and vitamins, food, etc. There are the union groups who are willing to incite and practice violence to obtain their demands.
All of this is exemplified in the mystery which is the center of the story. It involves an anarchist who assassinates those who have committed crimes but been declared innocent by the courts. There's the heiress of the novel's title whom Vilar would wed but who continues to exert influence on both royalty, nobles, anarchists, union groups and the poor. She is a "woman for all people" and yet one wonders what principles center her real beliefs. And what about the cabaret singer who is brutally attacked and whose connections are less than innocent or neutral.
One gets a fine sense of the culture of Barcelona and the governmental structure behind the story, involving royalty as well as city, military and provincial authorities. What Vilar hears in true political style is not what necessarily is! All is encountered during the most audacious and extravagant social parties and events. It is hard at times to follow the story because of all the name-dropping that no one could possible remember unless a master of Spanish history.
All in all, A Barcelona Heiress is a fascinating, well-researched work of historical fiction that is packed full of action, mystery, humor, poignancy, and so much more. Money rules the world - and it can also reform and transform the same! Impressive novel!
The eternal conflict between rich and poor is factually proven when Vilar is taken to the "caves" where the poor live and subsist on almost nothing or the private hospitals financially supported by those with a heart where starving, disease-ridden children are treated with the meager supplies of medicine and vitamins, food, etc. There are the union groups who are willing to incite and practice violence to obtain their demands.
All of this is exemplified in the mystery which is the center of the story. It involves an anarchist who assassinates those who have committed crimes but been declared innocent by the courts. There's the heiress of the novel's title whom Vilar would wed but who continues to exert influence on both royalty, nobles, anarchists, union groups and the poor. She is a "woman for all people" and yet one wonders what principles center her real beliefs. And what about the cabaret singer who is brutally attacked and whose connections are less than innocent or neutral.
One gets a fine sense of the culture of Barcelona and the governmental structure behind the story, involving royalty as well as city, military and provincial authorities. What Vilar hears in true political style is not what necessarily is! All is encountered during the most audacious and extravagant social parties and events. It is hard at times to follow the story because of all the name-dropping that no one could possible remember unless a master of Spanish history.
All in all, A Barcelona Heiress is a fascinating, well-researched work of historical fiction that is packed full of action, mystery, humor, poignancy, and so much more. Money rules the world - and it can also reform and transform the same! Impressive novel!
April 30, 2013
From and ARC sent by Netgalley for review
Spanish history is rich and complex and here the author focusses on a time we hear little about - the early 1920's, a time of civic and cultural unrest, a dozen years or so before the Civil War. This particular story is based on the life of the author's own grandfather, taken from notes he left. Pablo Vilar is a lawyer and journalist, in a unique position to observe all sides and help those he can without taking sides, while battling to maintain his own morality and ideals. Worker's unions are fighting for rights while anarchists are pushing against the traditions of the monarchy and noble classes. It is a dangerous time, with the seeds of revolution taking hold. Very interesting and informative, although the style is somewhat choppy - more a series of anecdotal incidents without a central theme or plot. The author chose the novel form for his story in order to creatively fill in gaps left blank in his grandfather's notes, but it still has more of a memoir feel to it than fiction, which is OK; I just think as a novel, it could have been juicier, the characters a little more fleshed out, the plot deeper. This book perhaps serves as a good jumping off point, to propel us to now dive deeper into the fascinating recent history of a country in turmoil, the effects of which are still very much alive and well today.
Spanish history is rich and complex and here the author focusses on a time we hear little about - the early 1920's, a time of civic and cultural unrest, a dozen years or so before the Civil War. This particular story is based on the life of the author's own grandfather, taken from notes he left. Pablo Vilar is a lawyer and journalist, in a unique position to observe all sides and help those he can without taking sides, while battling to maintain his own morality and ideals. Worker's unions are fighting for rights while anarchists are pushing against the traditions of the monarchy and noble classes. It is a dangerous time, with the seeds of revolution taking hold. Very interesting and informative, although the style is somewhat choppy - more a series of anecdotal incidents without a central theme or plot. The author chose the novel form for his story in order to creatively fill in gaps left blank in his grandfather's notes, but it still has more of a memoir feel to it than fiction, which is OK; I just think as a novel, it could have been juicier, the characters a little more fleshed out, the plot deeper. This book perhaps serves as a good jumping off point, to propel us to now dive deeper into the fascinating recent history of a country in turmoil, the effects of which are still very much alive and well today.
April 12, 2025
En parte autobiográfico, el autor nos sumerge en la convulsa Barcelona de los años 20, salpicada de atentados y huelgas generales consecuencia del choque entre la burguesía y el anarcosindicalismo. Desde el punto de vista de Pablo Vilar, un joven abogado y periodista monárquico cercano a los círculos más conservadores, recorremos la ciudad conociendo la vida de diferentes y variopintos personajes (cuyas tramas están entrelazadas entre sí), llegando a la conclusión de que no todo es blanco o negro, sino que hay toda una escala de grises, además de ciertas líneas rojas marcadas por los valores y derechos fundamentales que ninguna ideología debería traspasar, y que el final del libro, a modo de "moraleja", se encarga de recordar.
Si bien la lectura es amena y el conjunto de personajes y lugares enriquece la historia (una de las cosas que más me ha gustado es que el protagonista tuviera unas ideas más tradicionales), me parece hasta cierto punto previsible, con un mensaje que no es nuevo ni demasiado sutil, yendo quizás demasiado al grano; también es cierto que creo que para una persona que conozca/sea de Barcelona puede resultar más atractivo.
Si bien la lectura es amena y el conjunto de personajes y lugares enriquece la historia (una de las cosas que más me ha gustado es que el protagonista tuviera unas ideas más tradicionales), me parece hasta cierto punto previsible, con un mensaje que no es nuevo ni demasiado sutil, yendo quizás demasiado al grano; también es cierto que creo que para una persona que conozca/sea de Barcelona puede resultar más atractivo.
July 13, 2018
Interesante novela sobre los años 20 en Barcelona. El protagonista es Pau Vilar, un abogado y periodista monárquico. Un día la artista de varietés Maria Nilo le pide que la defienda en un caso en que fue agredida por 3 hombres. A través de ella conoce al sindicalista Angel Lacalle, que le da a conocer una Barcelona lejana al ambiente burgués en que vive.
December 19, 2024
Sin llegar a ser un libro que me haya maravillado me ha gustado la historia lo suficiente como para mantenerme leyéndolo con interés. Las descripciones de la época y los sucesos de la misma me han parecido muy interesantes. Le daría 3,5 estrellas.
June 3, 2018
I was totally without clue about this time period. It took me a bit to get into the story, but then I was hooked.
May 10, 2022
Entretenido
July 27, 2023
Unos años del primer tercio del siglo XX. Personajes de su tiempo, datos históricos.Todo verdaderamente interesante y ameno.
December 24, 2023
3'5?? No tiene una trama muy definida pero el ambiente es muy acertado!!
February 19, 2024
Como decirlo sin ser grosera? Interesante trama, horrible narrativa. Así haré!
July 11, 2025
Interesante ambientación de Barcelona de la burguesía y el aire político de los años 20 hasta el estallido de la Guerra Civil, aunque algunos capítulos me han sido un tanto monótonos.
December 18, 2016
Novela muy interesante para entender la Barcelona de los años 20 desde un punto de vista distinto al habitua: normalmente se nos habla desde el punto de vista obrero o de los cabarets; en cambio, aquí usa el atípico punto de vista de la patronal, del hombre rico y reaccionario que ve las reivindicaciones obreras como poco más que una abominación, y junto con él vamos descubriendo las luces y sombras de los anarquistas, de las mujeres de vida alegre y de la gente bien. Eso sí, la trama da poco de sí y está resuelta a trompicones, lo que le resta muchos puntos a la novela. Funciona, sobre todo, como antología de escenas cotidianas de la época.
November 6, 2012
Read my full review @ http://bit.ly/Rd5Zg3
Synopsis: In 1920's Spain, which is on the cusp of Civil War, the living differences between the rich and the poor are glaring and those with their own agendas are manipulating the system. Simmering beneath the surface is someone murdering individuals whom have been found innocent of their crimes by the courts.
Narrated from the perspective of Pablo Vilar, an attorney and journalist, who is always being manipulated from the interest groups wanting their own stories told, and loves an heiress, who seems to be able to mix with all these groups flawlessly. Is the heiress all she seems to be or is there something much deeper under the surface.
My rating: 2.5 Stars
My opinion: Although the premise of the story was interesting to me and the description of the setting was superb, I couldn't connect to any of the characters and found them to be written very one dimensionally. As a result, this book simply fell flat to me. I wish the author would have put as much effort into character development as he did into developing and describing his setting. I think had he done that, this would have been a 4 star read for me.
Source: Netgalley for Open Road Media
Synopsis: In 1920's Spain, which is on the cusp of Civil War, the living differences between the rich and the poor are glaring and those with their own agendas are manipulating the system. Simmering beneath the surface is someone murdering individuals whom have been found innocent of their crimes by the courts.
Narrated from the perspective of Pablo Vilar, an attorney and journalist, who is always being manipulated from the interest groups wanting their own stories told, and loves an heiress, who seems to be able to mix with all these groups flawlessly. Is the heiress all she seems to be or is there something much deeper under the surface.
My rating: 2.5 Stars
My opinion: Although the premise of the story was interesting to me and the description of the setting was superb, I couldn't connect to any of the characters and found them to be written very one dimensionally. As a result, this book simply fell flat to me. I wish the author would have put as much effort into character development as he did into developing and describing his setting. I think had he done that, this would have been a 4 star read for me.
Source: Netgalley for Open Road Media
October 3, 2012
I really liked the setting. I thought the high society and gritty underworld worked well together. That mixture really highlighted the mystery and added a great contrast to the era.
I am not very familiar with Spanish history or social structure during this era and I thought some of the facts were a little lost on me. There were a lot of references to predominant figures in Spain during this era and I found myself struggling to remember who was who and what their function was. I think I would have appreciated the story more if I had had more of a background in Spanish history.
See my full review here a>
I am not very familiar with Spanish history or social structure during this era and I thought some of the facts were a little lost on me. There were a lot of references to predominant figures in Spain during this era and I found myself struggling to remember who was who and what their function was. I think I would have appreciated the story more if I had had more of a background in Spanish history.
See my full review here a>
September 22, 2018
The author assumes the readers' familiarity with the subject matter as a given. Had the author provided a short background to this story, then the fictional narrative would have made more sense. As it was, the execution was lacking as there was no real connection between narratives - it comes off as a disjointed attempt to recreate the glitz and glamour of the Gatsby era with the setting in Barcelona.
see full review here @ Melisende's Library
see full review here @ Melisende's Library
August 17, 2016
For someone who knows Spanish political history, this book would be interesting background, I think. Also of interest to those who know Barcelona and its society well. It reads like an old detective story from the 1930's, so kind of fun in that way.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews