Dimensions
152 x 229 x 35mm
A number-one bestseller in Spain, this page-turning historical novel tracks the epic journey of a military mastermind whose betrayal leads to the conquest of Barcelona, from the most translated author in Catalan, Albert Sanchez Pinol. Why do the weak fight against the strong? This question sparks the retelling of an epic history that resulted in the annexation of Catalonia in 1714. The now ninety-eight-year-old narrator, Marti Zuviria, admits that he was the one who betrayed the city he was commended to keep. The journey that Marti Zuviria recounts is seamlessly weaved into an epic historical context. A military engineer in the early 1700's, one of the most prestigious of his time, Marti fought on both sides of the long War of the Spanish Succession between the Two Crowns (France and Spain) and an Allied enemy trying to resist the consolidation of those two powers. It is the story of a flawed individual navigating a sea of Machiavellian political and military strategy. A splendid work of art with brushstrokes of heroism, treason, love, soul-searching, pride, and regret . The account of a drawn-out dispute that would have its final round in the siege, and ultimate fall, of Barcelona. The book showcases a variety of images, including diagrams of warfare, portraits of political figures, and priceless maps of the old city. Victus is sure to enthrall readers of Roberto Bolano, Carlos Ruiz Zafon, and anyone who relishes historical thrillers.
