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Heart of Tango
Natalia is to be married to a German sailor much older than herself, but two days before the wedding she meets Diego, a mysterious young dancer, and they fall immediately in love. When he serenades her on the eve of the ceremony, Natalia's father unwittingly invites him to the festivities. There they dance a tango charged with passion, before Diego vanishes, knowing she is lost to him.
Soon after the marriage Natalia's father dies, and her husband is lost at sea, presumed dead. Penniless and alone, Natalia is persuaded to become a dancer in a tango hall. Diego discovers her there and vows to bring her away from this existence, but their reunion has devastating consequences. Many years later, the spirit of the dance and the lovers' longing for each other draws together two strangers in a haunting meeting, a fusion of time and identities, despair and hope.
Soon after the marriage Natalia's father dies, and her husband is lost at sea, presumed dead. Penniless and alone, Natalia is persuaded to become a dancer in a tango hall. Diego discovers her there and vows to bring her away from this existence, but their reunion has devastating consequences. Many years later, the spirit of the dance and the lovers' longing for each other draws together two strangers in a haunting meeting, a fusion of time and identities, despair and hope.
- GenresFiction
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
1 person is currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Elia Barceló
117 books315 followersElia Barceló (Alicante, 1957) es escritora y profesora de Literatura Hispánica y Escritura creativa en la Universidad de Innsbruck, Austria, donde vive desde 1981.
Con sus últimas novelas (El vuelo del Hipogrifo, El secreto del orfebre, Disfraces terribles en la editorial Lengua de Trapo y Corazón de Tango en 451 Editores, Las largas sombras en Ambar), traducidas o en proceso de traducción a una docena de idiomas (como el inglés, alemán, neerlandés, francés, italiano, noruego, sueco, danés), está obteniendo un considerable reconocimiento internacional, sobre todo en Alemania y Holanda. También ha publicado novelas para jóvenes, numerosos relatos y un ensayo sobre Julio Cortázar.
Con sus últimas novelas (El vuelo del Hipogrifo, El secreto del orfebre, Disfraces terribles en la editorial Lengua de Trapo y Corazón de Tango en 451 Editores, Las largas sombras en Ambar), traducidas o en proceso de traducción a una docena de idiomas (como el inglés, alemán, neerlandés, francés, italiano, noruego, sueco, danés), está obteniendo un considerable reconocimiento internacional, sobre todo en Alemania y Holanda. También ha publicado novelas para jóvenes, numerosos relatos y un ensayo sobre Julio Cortázar.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 13, 2024
Sehr poetisch geschrieben! Ich war in den dunklen Bars, habe die Zigaretten gerochen, den Wein geschmeckt. Habe der Musik gelauscht und meine Füße haben sich im Takt bewegt.
Und die ganze Zeit musste ich an den Satz von Enrique Santos Discepolo denken: "Tango ist wie ein trauriger Gedanke den man tanzen kann"
Und die ganze Zeit musste ich an den Satz von Enrique Santos Discepolo denken: "Tango ist wie ein trauriger Gedanke den man tanzen kann"
July 22, 2011
I cannot decide if I should give this 3 or 4 stars. The 3.5 star option would be so useful.
July 13, 2025
What a beautiful read. I felt like I was walking, smelling, and experiencing the street of 1920s Buenos Aires watching the tango dancers. The passion. The intensity. The romance. The grit 🔥
In this story we follow Natalia, a young innocent Spanish immigrant, who is promised marriage to an older Austrian man who she doesn’t love. At her wedding she dances with the mysterious handsome man, Diego. This is love at first sight ❤️ when Natalia’s husband disappears at sea, she is alone. But where is Diego?
A well written short novel told from different POVs. The chapters didn’t identify whose POV it was from so it did take a couple of paras to work out whose eyes we were looking through. The storyline is predictable and dramatic but I loved it. It is a ghost story of love that is steamy and makes you think of that time romance really touched your heart.
In this story we follow Natalia, a young innocent Spanish immigrant, who is promised marriage to an older Austrian man who she doesn’t love. At her wedding she dances with the mysterious handsome man, Diego. This is love at first sight ❤️ when Natalia’s husband disappears at sea, she is alone. But where is Diego?
A well written short novel told from different POVs. The chapters didn’t identify whose POV it was from so it did take a couple of paras to work out whose eyes we were looking through. The storyline is predictable and dramatic but I loved it. It is a ghost story of love that is steamy and makes you think of that time romance really touched your heart.
January 11, 2024
Heart of Tango by Elia Barceló.
In a seedy quarter of 1920s Buenos Aires, Natalia, a young innocent Spanish immigrant, is promised in marriage by her well-meaning father to a much older Austrian seaman. Natalia obeys although she does not love the man. At her wedding, she dances a tango with Diego, a handsome stranger, and they fall in love. Knowing that their love is hopeless, Diego vanishes. Immediately after her unhappy wedding night, her husband returns to the sea and is reported lost, presumed dead. Natalia’s father dies; she is alone, where is Diego?
In 21st-century Austria, a man and a woman in different cities search out dance halls where each meets the perfect tango partner. Mysterious messages left in coat pockets draw the two separately to Buenos Aires and the house where Natalia once lived.
That the plot is melodramatic and predictable is irrelevant. Heart of Tango is a spicy soup of puzzles, coincidences and atmosphere. A ghost story that throbs with the steamy heat and smells of a run-down South American port contrasted with the rain and snow of a European night. Passion for the tango links the characters, although none is an Argentinian. Beautifully caught is the shabby dignity of immigrants whose dreams have faded into poverty and loneliness in an uncaring foreign land. Each character is rounded and believable, his or her actions dictated by the period and social demands of the time.
This is a strange and rich novel. It is short, which is just as well, because once having picked it up a reader may be lost in its passionate, sensuous yet real world, and will not want to put it down. An intriguing and impressive novel.
In a seedy quarter of 1920s Buenos Aires, Natalia, a young innocent Spanish immigrant, is promised in marriage by her well-meaning father to a much older Austrian seaman. Natalia obeys although she does not love the man. At her wedding, she dances a tango with Diego, a handsome stranger, and they fall in love. Knowing that their love is hopeless, Diego vanishes. Immediately after her unhappy wedding night, her husband returns to the sea and is reported lost, presumed dead. Natalia’s father dies; she is alone, where is Diego?
In 21st-century Austria, a man and a woman in different cities search out dance halls where each meets the perfect tango partner. Mysterious messages left in coat pockets draw the two separately to Buenos Aires and the house where Natalia once lived.
That the plot is melodramatic and predictable is irrelevant. Heart of Tango is a spicy soup of puzzles, coincidences and atmosphere. A ghost story that throbs with the steamy heat and smells of a run-down South American port contrasted with the rain and snow of a European night. Passion for the tango links the characters, although none is an Argentinian. Beautifully caught is the shabby dignity of immigrants whose dreams have faded into poverty and loneliness in an uncaring foreign land. Each character is rounded and believable, his or her actions dictated by the period and social demands of the time.
This is a strange and rich novel. It is short, which is just as well, because once having picked it up a reader may be lost in its passionate, sensuous yet real world, and will not want to put it down. An intriguing and impressive novel.
February 2, 2018
I read Heart of Tango in one sitting. My favourite books are often not thousands of pages long. Though I really don't mind that at all as I love to read and can spend days doing it.
Heart of Tango is a book for lovers, for those who have had their hearts touched by romance and passion. I've danced Tango, read Borges and have tasted Yerba Mate. I've lived in Spain and I'm something of a Romantic. I found that because of these experiences, this book spoke to me in a way that others might not appreciate.
This is a classic. and should be made into a film and theater. It is full of love, darkness, innocence and doomed love.
There is a touch of magic realism to it and seduction.
Its a book about the loss of innocence and the right to choose who you want to be with.
There is a sense of poetry to Elia's words and the book is the best type of book,
One that tells a story, gets on with it and doesn't moralize or spout politics or meander.
It's a book where the characters come alive and are sympathetic.
I was enthralled, dawn came, I had stayed up all night reading and my heart cried out that the
book was ended.
A book for lovers and dancers. A beautiful story.
Heart of Tango is a book for lovers, for those who have had their hearts touched by romance and passion. I've danced Tango, read Borges and have tasted Yerba Mate. I've lived in Spain and I'm something of a Romantic. I found that because of these experiences, this book spoke to me in a way that others might not appreciate.
This is a classic. and should be made into a film and theater. It is full of love, darkness, innocence and doomed love.
There is a touch of magic realism to it and seduction.
Its a book about the loss of innocence and the right to choose who you want to be with.
There is a sense of poetry to Elia's words and the book is the best type of book,
One that tells a story, gets on with it and doesn't moralize or spout politics or meander.
It's a book where the characters come alive and are sympathetic.
I was enthralled, dawn came, I had stayed up all night reading and my heart cried out that the
book was ended.
A book for lovers and dancers. A beautiful story.
December 11, 2020
A very short but enjoyable read which I have had sat unread for some time. Part love story with a slightly supernatural element bookending the tale.
At the heart is Natalia a young woman who has moved with her father from Spain to Buuenos Aires in 1920, betrothed to a coarse sailor at her father's wishes she unexpectedly meets Diego a reporter who in his spare time enjoys a Tango. On her wedding day Diego and his band, after serenading Natalia on the wedding eve and being invited by her father to the wedding, dances with Natalia with the grooms permission and the tango is perfect. What happens next leads to a compelling and dramatic story which I enjoyed immensely.
The author captures the drama and beauty of a unique dance which I often catch when I lift my eyes from my book on a Saturday night during Strictly. Maybe it is time my pair of two left dancing shoes.
At the heart is Natalia a young woman who has moved with her father from Spain to Buuenos Aires in 1920, betrothed to a coarse sailor at her father's wishes she unexpectedly meets Diego a reporter who in his spare time enjoys a Tango. On her wedding day Diego and his band, after serenading Natalia on the wedding eve and being invited by her father to the wedding, dances with Natalia with the grooms permission and the tango is perfect. What happens next leads to a compelling and dramatic story which I enjoyed immensely.
The author captures the drama and beauty of a unique dance which I often catch when I lift my eyes from my book on a Saturday night during Strictly. Maybe it is time my pair of two left dancing shoes.
July 21, 2019
Merkwaardige roman, vol van passie en tango, over jaloezie en een uitzichtloos bestaan als (getrouwde) vrouw in het Argentinië, begin twintigste eeuw. Merkwaardig vind ik de manier waarop twee dubbellevens - één zo'n dubbelleven speelt zich af aan het begin van de eenentwintigste eeuw- met elkaar verweven zijn. Meer ga ik er niet over zeggen omdat dan het gevaar bestaat dat ik teveel ga 'spoilen'.
July 9, 2019
Es un libro que te transporta a la época. Es increíble la forma en que la autora transmite el amor por el tango y todo lo que ha de sentirse en medio de un salón de baile.
Corta pero concreta. Solo puedo decir: gracias, por todo el amor y el esfuerzo que senti en cada línea. Sencillamente el tango parece sonar en tus oídos a medida que se va leyendo!
Corta pero concreta. Solo puedo decir: gracias, por todo el amor y el esfuerzo que senti en cada línea. Sencillamente el tango parece sonar en tus oídos a medida que se va leyendo!
September 19, 2021
A short read during my week away in Wales.
The story of a young Spanish bride getting married in Argentina to a sailor, who is much older. She meets a newspaperman closer to her own age on the eve of her wedding and with the same passion for the Tango. It ends sadly.
The story of a young Spanish bride getting married in Argentina to a sailor, who is much older. She meets a newspaperman closer to her own age on the eve of her wedding and with the same passion for the Tango. It ends sadly.
September 28, 2024
3.5 stars
This would have been higher, but I really didn't like the formatting of the story. Bouncing around between POVs from paragraph to paragraph. It just kept taking me out of it.
Other than that, this was a hauntingly beautiful book.
This would have been higher, but I really didn't like the formatting of the story. Bouncing around between POVs from paragraph to paragraph. It just kept taking me out of it.
Other than that, this was a hauntingly beautiful book.
September 11, 2017
Lo tuve que leer para la escuela y me termino gustando. Muy bien ambientado en la época, literalmente creo que es de los libros mas machistas que leí. Final ÉPICO.
August 19, 2018
Dat zijn we niet gewoon van Barcélo!
August 26, 2018
This is a one sitting read, a passionate tale that trots a long in a pleasing way without any real surprises but it’s nicely done.
March 22, 2024
Tango 4 life
February 10, 2022
en si le doy 3,5 pero bueno
es un libro nostálgico como esa época y la verdad que cada vez que describía algo lo sentía como propio o como cercano o conocido
era familiar a mí.me pareció un libro muy bien escrito.
lo único malo es que al tener pocas páginas yo sentí que le falta algo de desarrollo a la historia de los personajes,aparte que pasan todas las muertes juntas y sin dar detalles,pero lo entiendo porque es un libro muy corto que no da lugar a explayarse
igual es un LIBRAZO
100% recomendado
es un libro nostálgico como esa época y la verdad que cada vez que describía algo lo sentía como propio o como cercano o conocido
era familiar a mí.me pareció un libro muy bien escrito.
lo único malo es que al tener pocas páginas yo sentí que le falta algo de desarrollo a la historia de los personajes,aparte que pasan todas las muertes juntas y sin dar detalles,pero lo entiendo porque es un libro muy corto que no da lugar a explayarse
igual es un LIBRAZO
100% recomendado
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2013
Twee liefdesverhalen, twee tijdperken, één man, één vrouw, verbonden door één dans: de tango.
We dansten. We dansten de muziek en de verhalen die ik mezelf had verteld en de herinneringen van een vervlogen tijd die ik niet had gekend. We dansten de weemoed, de hunkering en de waanzin.
(p78)
Ik zag dit boek toevallig in de bib en herkende de naam van de schrijfster: een paar jaar geleden was ik helemaal weg van haar Bal masqué, van haar schrijfstijl en de vernuftige manier waarop het verhaal in elkaar stak. Tangohart is dun, nog geen 155 bladzijden, waardoor ik minder tijd had om me in het verhaal te laten onderdompelen. Ik was helemaal in de war toen bleek dat het eerste hoofdstuk zich in een totaal andere periode afspeelde, met twee totaal andere mensen, en dat er dus magie in het spel zat – een aspect dat er voor mij niet per se bij hoefde, aangezien liefde an sich al magisch en mysterieus genoeg is.
Het verhaal van Buenos Aires in de jaren twintig van vorige eeuw had veel beter uitgewerkt kunnen en moeten worden. Nu is het van: arm meisje trouwt met veel oudere zeeman die na de huwelijksnacht op zee verdwijnt en het meisje gebroken achterlaat omdat zij beseft dat ze de grootste fout van haar leven heeft gemaakt, intussen is er die tangogod met wie ze op haar huwelijksfeest danste en die veel te braaf afwacht om zijn slag te slaan, net op het moment dat de verdwenen zeeman weer opduikt en komt opeisen wat van hem is, wat – spoiler alert maar je voelt het van ver aankomen – ontaardt in een bloedbad, al vind ik dat het koppel zich nogal makkelijk laat vermoorden maar ik vond ook al dat ze – wanneer er geen tango werd gedanst, ja zodra de muziek werd afgezet – totaal geen power hadden, geen passie, ze lieten alles maar gebeuren, och als ik niet getrouwd ben met de liefde van mijn leven dan is dat zo, ik haal m’n schouders op en dompel me onder in mijn ongelukkige leventje…
Anyways, om maar te zeggen dat ik het een mager verhaal vond.
2 sterren, een kleine teleurstelling na Bal masqué.
We dansten. We dansten de muziek en de verhalen die ik mezelf had verteld en de herinneringen van een vervlogen tijd die ik niet had gekend. We dansten de weemoed, de hunkering en de waanzin.
(p78)
Ik zag dit boek toevallig in de bib en herkende de naam van de schrijfster: een paar jaar geleden was ik helemaal weg van haar Bal masqué, van haar schrijfstijl en de vernuftige manier waarop het verhaal in elkaar stak. Tangohart is dun, nog geen 155 bladzijden, waardoor ik minder tijd had om me in het verhaal te laten onderdompelen. Ik was helemaal in de war toen bleek dat het eerste hoofdstuk zich in een totaal andere periode afspeelde, met twee totaal andere mensen, en dat er dus magie in het spel zat – een aspect dat er voor mij niet per se bij hoefde, aangezien liefde an sich al magisch en mysterieus genoeg is.
Het verhaal van Buenos Aires in de jaren twintig van vorige eeuw had veel beter uitgewerkt kunnen en moeten worden. Nu is het van: arm meisje trouwt met veel oudere zeeman die na de huwelijksnacht op zee verdwijnt en het meisje gebroken achterlaat omdat zij beseft dat ze de grootste fout van haar leven heeft gemaakt, intussen is er die tangogod met wie ze op haar huwelijksfeest danste en die veel te braaf afwacht om zijn slag te slaan, net op het moment dat de verdwenen zeeman weer opduikt en komt opeisen wat van hem is, wat – spoiler alert maar je voelt het van ver aankomen – ontaardt in een bloedbad, al vind ik dat het koppel zich nogal makkelijk laat vermoorden maar ik vond ook al dat ze – wanneer er geen tango werd gedanst, ja zodra de muziek werd afgezet – totaal geen power hadden, geen passie, ze lieten alles maar gebeuren, och als ik niet getrouwd ben met de liefde van mijn leven dan is dat zo, ik haal m’n schouders op en dompel me onder in mijn ongelukkige leventje…
Anyways, om maar te zeggen dat ik het een mager verhaal vond.
2 sterren, een kleine teleurstelling na Bal masqué.
March 12, 2015
I read this short novella after seeing the author at the recent Adelaide Writer's Week.
I'm not a tango dancer, so don't really have a feeling for the dance, but I know it inspires much passion in devotees and I did get a feel for the rhythm and flow of this story. The tale is somewhat Shakespearean and it is well translated, but I didn't really love it to bits.
Fortunately, as a novella, it was just short enough to keep me mildly amused - if it had been any longer I probably wouldn't have bothered.
I'm not a tango dancer, so don't really have a feeling for the dance, but I know it inspires much passion in devotees and I did get a feel for the rhythm and flow of this story. The tale is somewhat Shakespearean and it is well translated, but I didn't really love it to bits.
Fortunately, as a novella, it was just short enough to keep me mildly amused - if it had been any longer I probably wouldn't have bothered.
January 25, 2008
(Regalo de mi AI de BC)
Pues el libro me ha gustado, aunque no debería. Es demasiado folletinesco, demasiado dulzón, quizá hasta demasiado "tanguero", es decir, triste, arrabalero, apasionado, violento, un poco salvaje y un poco exagerado. Aún así, he disfrutado leyéndolo, en un suspiro, y me he sentido como transportada a una irrealidad de antaño, a algo un poco extraño...
Pues el libro me ha gustado, aunque no debería. Es demasiado folletinesco, demasiado dulzón, quizá hasta demasiado "tanguero", es decir, triste, arrabalero, apasionado, violento, un poco salvaje y un poco exagerado. Aún así, he disfrutado leyéndolo, en un suspiro, y me he sentido como transportada a una irrealidad de antaño, a algo un poco extraño...
January 27, 2016
Beautifully written. The story flows nicely despite fact that the chapters focus on different characters. Wonderful how it all comes together with of course the inevitable ending for 2 of the characters but a twist at the end
February 6, 2013
The combination of the book being on special offer and me being into tango was enough for me to give this book a try. It was quite a struggle to stay interested. The most interesting aspects were the historical information that was provided.
(Read in Dutch)
(Read in Dutch)
December 26, 2013
Elia Barcelo is one of my favourite writers. I like this book of her as well, but from all of hers I read this one ws the weakest. But still, a lovely story. I just love Barcelos beautiful language!
March 25, 2008
Interesting book, but the end was a little strange.
September 10, 2011
Well crafted story with a twist. Knowledge of Tango not required!
October 6, 2020
My first book in Spanish. Read quickly, I enjoy Elia's style that for me is similar to Cortazar's. I think it is a good read definitely for everyone who dances tango.
June 2, 2013
Een novelle geschreven in mooi poëtisch proza. Het verhaal is niet bijster origineel, maar leest wel lekker weg op een luie zondagochtend in de zon.
February 16, 2009
Reading this in dutch.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews