Summary of The Anatomy of a Moment
“The Anatomy of a Moment” by Javier Cercas is a fictionalised account of the 1981 Spanish coup d’état led by Colonel Tejero and the Generals Armada and Milans del Bosch. The moment referred to in the title is when Tejero stormed the Spanish Congress of Deputies, ordering all politicians to get down while the Guardia Civil fired several gunshots. Only three politicians defied the order and remained seated: Prime Minister Adolfo Súarez, Deputy Prime Minister Gutiérez Mellado, and Communist leader Santiago Carrillo.
Reasons to read The Anatomy of a Moment
“The Anatomy of a Moment” is a gripping investigation into the failed military coup of 1981 in Spain. Had the coup succeeded, Spain would have evolved in a drastically different direction. The novel describes the reforms in Spain following Franco’s death, as well as the resentment among certain right-wing military figures who refused to accept the new democratic system – whether due to political and economic instability or the increased attacks by Basque ETA terrorists. This book is invaluable for readers interested in Spanish political history or more broadly in the transition of a country from dictatorship to democracy. “The Anatomy of a Moment” caused a sensation in Spain and became a bestseller upon its release. Javier Cercas won the Premio Nacional de Narrativa in 2010 for this book. He also won the Premio Salambó de Narrativa and the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize for “Soldiers of Salamis” and the European Book Prize in 2016 for “The Impostor”.
Setting: Madrid (Spain)
Original title: AnatomĂa de un instante
Year of publication: 2009
Nr of pages: 403
