Summary of The Shadow of the Wind
In 1945, a young boy named Daniel is taken by his father to the mysterious Cemetery of Forgotten Books in Barcelona, a hidden place that houses rare, forgotten, and banned books. There, he selects a novel entitled The Shadow of the Wind by Julián Carax and soon discovers that the author has vanished and that nearly all copies of the book have been destroyed. As shadowy figures attempt to obtain his copy, Daniel sets out to uncover the truth. His search leads him into a complex psychological mystery, revealing a tragic love story between Julián Carax and a young woman named Penélope, dating back some thirty years.
Reasons to read The Shadow of the Wind
“The Shadow of the Wind” by Spanish author Carlos Ruiz Zafón is an internationally bestselling Gothic novel that combines elements of magical realism, mystery, crime, and romance. It is the first instalment in Zafón’s Cemetery of Forgotten Books series, followed by “The Angel’s Game” (El juego del ángel), “The Prisoner of Heaven” (El prisionero del cielo), and “The Labyrinth of the Spirits” (El laberinto de los espíritus). The books are firmly set in Barcelona during and after the Spanish Civil War and the Francoist dictatorship.
Original title: La sombra del viento
Year of publication: 2001
Nr of pages: 478
