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Holy Ghost: A Novel of the Spanish Civil War
It is said that history does not repeat, but rather it rhymes.Today, Spain is a modern, civilized, and progressive society, and it is difficult to imagine that less than 100 years ago that father was set against son, brother against brother, and neighbor against neighbor, in a fight to the death. But yet it was. From 1931 to 1936 Spain descended into chaos, disorder, and widespread violence, and then, from 1936 to 1939 a horrific Civil War erupted and over 500,000 Spaniards were killed.In Holy Ghost, the reader follows three exceptional young people through their journey into this inferno. The characters in the book, with their differences in upbringings, outlooks, and attitudes, highlight the creaking fault lines in Spanish society...the fault lines which cannot hold. Back and forth the forces good and evil push against one another. Holy Ghost is a mirror of our time. “K.D. Conway’s debut novel is an original, heartbreaking work of fiction. It is the story of three young Spaniards from different backgrounds and perspectives who become caught up in the maelstrom of the Spanish Civil War. Holy Ghost transports the reader to provide insight into the powerful events that broke loose in Spain in the 1930’s. His dialogues are fluid, and the reader feels transported, as if in a postcard, as the characters fight for survival and redemption. It is both a compelling novel, and a serious work.”- JESUS PALACIOS - Historian, Author with Stanley Payne of a Personal and Political Biography
406 pages, Paperback
Published January 12, 2021
2965 people want to read
About the author
K.D. Conway
3 books30 followersMr. Conway grew up in the Los Angeles area and graduated from UCLA with a degree in Economics, and later from USC with a degree in Finance. He spent 30+ years successfully building four technology companies, including his last company which specialized in linguistic and behavioral analytics. Mr. Conway now devotes himself to writing, with his current focus being on the Spanish Civil War, and its aftermath.
His first book, "Holy Ghost" follows the events in Spain in the 1920s and 1930s through the eyes of three young Spaniards. The book is a work of fiction built on the foundation of the actual events that rocked the country. He is writing a follow-on story called "The War Continues" which will work its way through the events that follow The Civil War up until the early 1980s.
When not in Spain, Mr. Conway lives in Florida.
His first book, "Holy Ghost" follows the events in Spain in the 1920s and 1930s through the eyes of three young Spaniards. The book is a work of fiction built on the foundation of the actual events that rocked the country. He is writing a follow-on story called "The War Continues" which will work its way through the events that follow The Civil War up until the early 1980s.
When not in Spain, Mr. Conway lives in Florida.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 14, 2022
Thank you for the free coppy of the book for an honest review.
This book was awesome. The writing style was entreagueing. The historical acuracy was right on point. I enjoyed this very much and I recommend this book to all who are interested in history.
This book was awesome. The writing style was entreagueing. The historical acuracy was right on point. I enjoyed this very much and I recommend this book to all who are interested in history.
June 9, 2021
I felt like I was right there with the rest of the fictional characters reading this fascinating Historical Fiction story of the Spanish Civil War. I knew little about this sad time in Spain but because of K.D. Conway, he made it easy for me to understand the Spanish Civil War through his fictional characters.
It is just one heck of a story.
It is just one heck of a story.
May 27, 2021
K.D. Conway's debut novel is a must read for historical fiction fans. It's a harrowing story of the Spanish civil war. The book follows three very different characters who start an unlikely friendship. Each from different backgrounds, different religious beliefs and ideologies. Throughout the war the main characters struggle between right and wrong, and good and evil but Conway shows us that life is not always black and white. With the gripping storyline and the beautiful descriptions of the cities and villages in Spain each page will keep you wanting more.
March 26, 2021
Holy Ghost is a historical fiction novel about the Spanish Civil War written by K.D. Conway. I have always been fascinated by this period of time in history, and it seems not a lot of historical fiction takes place during this time, so I was thrilled to receive this copy from the author.
The research on the historical events and historical figures mentioned throughout the book is impeccable, and the fictional characters are very well written and truly stayed with me even after I finished reading the book.
The novel brings together three young adults (Xavi, Montse and Jaime), who become friends in college before the civil war breaks. Each friend's background is very different, and their friendship is a micro-cosmos of what Spain looked like on the cusp of the civil war. It truly reflects the different ideologies, ethnic groups and religious beliefs of this beautiful but complex country. I loved all three main characters, and it was easy to become vested in what the future held for each one of them, which kept me wanting to know what would happen next.
I truly recommend this novel, especially if you like historical fiction, drama and some romance. While reading it, you might even notice a few parallels to the events we are experiencing in the USA at this time.
April 27, 2021
I love historical fiction. This is an excellent book with interesting characters against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War, a conflict which few people really understand. Author K.D. Conway uses an extensive knowledge of Spain and the civil war to weave a fascinating tale of the lives and struggles of several people caught up in this brutal conflict. By the time you finish this novel, you will not only have read a very good story, but you will understand much better the reasons and results of this war that immediately preceded WWII. You will also gain a much better understanding of the different regions of Spain and how they can be so different.
It is hard to believe this is Mr. Conway's first novel. The story flows very well and I did not want the book to end. I hope there is a sequel in the works. Dennis Dalton
It is hard to believe this is Mr. Conway's first novel. The story flows very well and I did not want the book to end. I hope there is a sequel in the works. Dennis Dalton
June 14, 2021
I could write a book about this book. K.D. Conway's Holy Ghost is a masterwork of historical fiction. The emotional response it elicits from the reader. The compelling characters. The plot twists. The lyrical writing. The tension between good and evil. The history lessons that endure today. The skillful use of foreshadowing.
The book is about the Spanish Civil War but it is also a stark lesson for our times: how history repeats itself. The descriptions of the animosity, polarization, and divisiveness of the Spanish people in the 1930s uncannily mirrors what's happening here and now in the U.S. I think many Americans do sometimes wonder if we may be heading toward civil war.
The author deftly avoids the usual black and white, “goodies vs. baddies” outlook on war and forces the reader instead to recognize the grays. His use of three young Spaniards (Basque, Catalonian, Catholic conservative) to elucidate the complexities of the Spanish Civil War is genius. An example is Xavi, a young priest who risks his life to help people on both sides of the war. Despite his democratic leanings, his separatist Basque upbringing, and his contempt for Fascism, he sides with Franco's Nationalist victory in the end after seeing the dysfunction and anarchy on the Republican side.
Far from a dull history text, Holy Ghost is a page-turner. You learn about the Spanish Civil War through the eyes and actions of three young Spaniards with vastly different backgrounds and political leanings—Montse, a beautiful young Catalonian woman who becomes an activist and journalist; Xavi, a charismatic young Basque who enters the priesthood despite his attraction to Montse; and Jaime, a wealthy young Catholic who supports the conservative Nationalist agenda.
The three meet as students at Salamanca University a few years prior to the civil war and, despite their differences, become lifelong friends. Montsie and Xavi long for a more democratic Spain in line with Republican revolutionaries, while Jaime joins Franco's Fascist Nationalist army. Yet their close friendship holds, unlike the many fractured friendships due to politics in our country today. However, as the three young people become enmeshed in the civil war and the brutalities committed on both sides, they are forced to reexamine their own beliefs, their preconceptions, and the moral complexities of war.
There are no stock characters in this book. Even the minor characters are beautifully fleshed out—one of the many reasons, I believe, that Holy Ghost would also make for a binge-worthy TV series.
This is K.D. Conway's first book. I can hardly wait for the second.
The book is about the Spanish Civil War but it is also a stark lesson for our times: how history repeats itself. The descriptions of the animosity, polarization, and divisiveness of the Spanish people in the 1930s uncannily mirrors what's happening here and now in the U.S. I think many Americans do sometimes wonder if we may be heading toward civil war.
The author deftly avoids the usual black and white, “goodies vs. baddies” outlook on war and forces the reader instead to recognize the grays. His use of three young Spaniards (Basque, Catalonian, Catholic conservative) to elucidate the complexities of the Spanish Civil War is genius. An example is Xavi, a young priest who risks his life to help people on both sides of the war. Despite his democratic leanings, his separatist Basque upbringing, and his contempt for Fascism, he sides with Franco's Nationalist victory in the end after seeing the dysfunction and anarchy on the Republican side.
Far from a dull history text, Holy Ghost is a page-turner. You learn about the Spanish Civil War through the eyes and actions of three young Spaniards with vastly different backgrounds and political leanings—Montse, a beautiful young Catalonian woman who becomes an activist and journalist; Xavi, a charismatic young Basque who enters the priesthood despite his attraction to Montse; and Jaime, a wealthy young Catholic who supports the conservative Nationalist agenda.
The three meet as students at Salamanca University a few years prior to the civil war and, despite their differences, become lifelong friends. Montsie and Xavi long for a more democratic Spain in line with Republican revolutionaries, while Jaime joins Franco's Fascist Nationalist army. Yet their close friendship holds, unlike the many fractured friendships due to politics in our country today. However, as the three young people become enmeshed in the civil war and the brutalities committed on both sides, they are forced to reexamine their own beliefs, their preconceptions, and the moral complexities of war.
There are no stock characters in this book. Even the minor characters are beautifully fleshed out—one of the many reasons, I believe, that Holy Ghost would also make for a binge-worthy TV series.
This is K.D. Conway's first book. I can hardly wait for the second.
December 1, 2021
K.D. Conway has written a powerful tale of three remarkable young people during the Spanish Civil War, an event seldom treated in historic fiction. With great balance (clearly the result of painstaking research), the author vividly conveys the tragic clashes among Spain’s three main factions at the time: the Nationalists, the Republicans and the Separatists.
Conway's protagonists meet as students at the University of Salamanca in the 20s and start their adult lives as Spain decends into factional violence. Xavi, the courageous priest helps his fellow persecuted religious escape to France; Montse, the intrepid female journalist reports on the war with searing honesty; and Jaime, the military officer attempts to defend his family honor without succumbing to savagery.
While direct and sometimes sparing, Conway’s writing style nonetheless transports the reader to era and engenders enormous empathy for his heroes. Each acts with integrity, purpose and resolution. The characters and setting would make for a brilliant Amazon Prime or Netflix series!
I can't wait for the sequel!
Conway's protagonists meet as students at the University of Salamanca in the 20s and start their adult lives as Spain decends into factional violence. Xavi, the courageous priest helps his fellow persecuted religious escape to France; Montse, the intrepid female journalist reports on the war with searing honesty; and Jaime, the military officer attempts to defend his family honor without succumbing to savagery.
While direct and sometimes sparing, Conway’s writing style nonetheless transports the reader to era and engenders enormous empathy for his heroes. Each acts with integrity, purpose and resolution. The characters and setting would make for a brilliant Amazon Prime or Netflix series!
I can't wait for the sequel!
March 25, 2021
Wow, what a story! This novel is about Spain's Civil War in 1936 - 1939, and weaves true people in with characters developed to represent the warring factions within that society. It was fascinating to compare their issues, and the responses to them, with the political hotbed currently found in the U.S. I hope that we do not end up in a similar civil war. Rather than erase history that isn't pleasant, people should learn from it. I would love to go to Spain now and see these places that the author's vivid words brought to life.
May 24, 2021
A historical fiction novel that takes place in the Spanish Civil War from 1936-1939. I was intrigued by this novel as I have never read a story based on the Spanish Civil War.
The book is about three best friends, Xavi, Jaime and Montse, who meet at University and then follows their lives throughout the Spanish Civil war. The characters have different beliefs and backgrounds, which reflects on Spanish society at the time. The events that occur during the conflict are heartbreaking and unimaginable.
I loved and appreciated the significant amount of research that went into this novel and the key historical figures included, along with fictional characters. It was interesting to learn about the different regions of Spain and their differing views during the Civil War. If you do not know much about this event in history, I would highly recommend this novel to get an insight into the Spanish Civil War.
Thank you, K.D. Conway and Ella for kindly sending me a copy of Holy Ghost in exchange for an honest review.
The book is about three best friends, Xavi, Jaime and Montse, who meet at University and then follows their lives throughout the Spanish Civil war. The characters have different beliefs and backgrounds, which reflects on Spanish society at the time. The events that occur during the conflict are heartbreaking and unimaginable.
I loved and appreciated the significant amount of research that went into this novel and the key historical figures included, along with fictional characters. It was interesting to learn about the different regions of Spain and their differing views during the Civil War. If you do not know much about this event in history, I would highly recommend this novel to get an insight into the Spanish Civil War.
Thank you, K.D. Conway and Ella for kindly sending me a copy of Holy Ghost in exchange for an honest review.
December 10, 2021
I truly enjoyed reading Holy Ghost. The three main characters have come so vividly to life with Conway’s skilful narrative, imagery, attention to detail and psychological and emotional depth depicting their different personalities, backgrounds and beliefs. At the same time I’ve learned so much about the Spanish culture, history and traditions and I am enticed to continue reading in anticipation of what happens next…
R.M, Ph.D.
R.M, Ph.D.
March 3, 2023
Conway looks at the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) through the eyes of three main characters who encompass the chasm of ideological viewpoints that brought Spain into horrific civil war that saw atrocities committed by both sides. Conway does not make either side seem better than the other but rather shows what can happen to ordinary people and governments when common sense, compromise, civility, and decency descend into hyper partisanship.
June 5, 2021
I will write my comments shortly. Suffice to say for now, I enjoyed the book and I'd love to see a sequel.
July 20, 2021
Holy Ghost is passionate and personal journey through the turbulent times of the Spanish Civil War. The natural beauty of the country’s landscape and the unwavering pride of its diverse people is the cultural backdrop for the casualties of corrupting power and prejudice. KD Conway lifts the issues of faith, patriotism, love and loyalty as experienced by beloved characters to our conscience. Lessons from this time are lessons for our time.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews