Summary of Cathedral of the Sea
“Cathedral of the Sea” is a best-selling historical novel set in fourteenth-century Barcelona, centred on the construction of the church of Santa Maria del Mar in the city’s Ribera district. It follows the life of its protagonist, Arnau Estanyol, who rises from humble beginnings as the son of a fugitive serf to become a wealthy man, a trajectory that arouses the envy of his enemies.
Reasons to read Cathedral of the Sea
“Cathedral of the Sea” is a compelling novel by the Spanish author and lawyer Ildefonso Falcones. While it is perhaps not the most original work of historical fiction, it offers a vivid and engaging portrayal of life in medieval Barcelona. The novel was adapted into a Spanish-language television series in 2018. Another notable work by Falcones is “The Hand of Fátima” (La mano de Fátima), which deals with the Morisco revolt in the Alpujarra mountains, south of Granada, in the sixteenth century.
Original title: La catedral del mar
Year of publication: 2006
Nr of pages: 624
