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Under the Gypsy Moon: A Novel
“Beautifully lyric . . . [Lawrence Thornton’s] prose is finely honed and his touch sure.”— Chicago Tribune
The year is 1936. The tide of fascism is overwhelming Europe. In Spain the Guardia Civil wages war on the citizens. Spanish-German novelist Joaquín Wolf leaves his adopted home in Paris for a short visit to Spain, where he will spend an evening that will change his life. For there he meets the great Spanish poet Federico García Lorca and in two brief hours they forge a close friendship. Within days Lorca is dead, executed by the civil guard, an event that sets Wolf on an irrevocable course as he joins the struggle against Franco.
Wounded, Wolf returns to France to find German fascism threatening the city he loves. Banding together with a fiercely political group of writers named the Lorca Club, he again becomes a soldier of the resistance—this time using his most potent words.
Through the Lorca Club he meets Ursula Krieger, another exiled Berliner living in Paris, a survivor not only of war but of the bloodless horrors of postwar life. Though the scars of her past keep her from reaching out to him, Wolf’s quiet, steadfast love vanquishes shame and pain. And while Lorca taught Wolf what must be fought against, even to the death, it is Ursula who teaches him what is worth fighting—and living—for.
The year is 1936. The tide of fascism is overwhelming Europe. In Spain the Guardia Civil wages war on the citizens. Spanish-German novelist Joaquín Wolf leaves his adopted home in Paris for a short visit to Spain, where he will spend an evening that will change his life. For there he meets the great Spanish poet Federico García Lorca and in two brief hours they forge a close friendship. Within days Lorca is dead, executed by the civil guard, an event that sets Wolf on an irrevocable course as he joins the struggle against Franco.
Wounded, Wolf returns to France to find German fascism threatening the city he loves. Banding together with a fiercely political group of writers named the Lorca Club, he again becomes a soldier of the resistance—this time using his most potent words.
Through the Lorca Club he meets Ursula Krieger, another exiled Berliner living in Paris, a survivor not only of war but of the bloodless horrors of postwar life. Though the scars of her past keep her from reaching out to him, Wolf’s quiet, steadfast love vanquishes shame and pain. And while Lorca taught Wolf what must be fought against, even to the death, it is Ursula who teaches him what is worth fighting—and living—for.
284 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 24, 2014
How to review? This is just an incredibly beautiful book about the Resistance in WWII and the Spanish Civil War. I think it's the best historical novel about those years that I've ever read. I was planning to say it sits on the fine line between personal and political. But that would be wrong, there is no separation between the two.
Thornton's writing is beautiful & lyrical - very fitting for a book with Federico Lorca as a (mostly posthumous) main character.
Sorry for the poorly-written review. You'll just have to read it for yourself.
I found this on in my bookcase. I probably picked it up at a used bookstore and never got around to reading it. I wish I had read it sooner. Lawrence Thornton just went onto my Favorite Authors shelf.
Thornton's writing is beautiful & lyrical - very fitting for a book with Federico Lorca as a (mostly posthumous) main character.
Sorry for the poorly-written review. You'll just have to read it for yourself.
I found this on in my bookcase. I probably picked it up at a used bookstore and never got around to reading it. I wish I had read it sooner. Lawrence Thornton just went onto my Favorite Authors shelf.
March 23, 2020
Some years ago a friend sent me a postcard from Spain that depicted the violent death of Federico Garcia Lorca. I was surprised at the subject matter, but now I understand. This was an excellent read.
January 11, 2019
One of the worst books I've read in a while
February 26, 2022
I am struggling to focus on the narrative as someone who does not know much about European terms but I like of some the key points on the story has the characters are very revolutionary!
December 28, 2015
Classy. Old school lyrical writing style. A series of dreamscapes taking place during a very harsh time in human history. Loved how the story moved back and forth between the mythical and the concrete. Dragged a bit at the very end.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews