Description
Duel to the Death in Seville
Book Summary
This book reconstructs one of the most tragic and gripping episodes in early 20th-century Seville: the duel to the death between the Marquis Rafael de León y Primo de Rivera and Civil Guard Captain Vicente Paredes Maroto. Through meticulous research, the author uncovers the intricacies of a story of debt, jealousy, and honor that culminated in a fatal confrontation. The reader will discover not only the facts of the duel, but also the social context, the romantic intrigues, and the consequences that left a mark on an entire city.
What is it about?
The work narrates the true story of Rafael de León y Primo de Rivera, a Sevillian aristocrat who had squandered the fortune of his wife, María de las Cuevas Pickman, granddaughter of the founder of the famous La Cartuja de Sevilla ceramics factory. In debt and dependent on loans from his friend, Captain Vicente Paredes Maroto, he receives an anonymous letter warning him of the military man's intentions toward his wife. Blind with rage, the Marquis finds the Captain at a theater and publicly slaps him. A challenge of honor is inevitable, and a duel to the death is agreed upon, which takes place on October 9, 1904. The Marquis dies in the encounter, sparking public outrage. The Church denies him burial in the Catholic cemetery, but an enraged crowd buries him by force, only for guards to exhume him that same night and move him to the civil cemetery.
Main Themes
- Honor and the duel as a mechanism for conflict resolution in early 20th-century high society.
- The economic ruin of the aristocracy and tensions between the nobility and the military establishment.
- Jealousy, infidelity, and the manipulation of information through anonymous letters.
- The conflict between ecclesiastical authority and popular will, reflected in the dispute over the Marquis's burial.
- The social and judicial chronicle of an event that shocked the city of Seville.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers interested in the social and political history of Spain, especially the Restoration period. It will also appeal to those who enjoy chronicles of real events, historical biographies, and stories of passion and honor set in early 20th-century Seville.
What this book offers
- A detailed and documented reconstruction of a historical duel that left its mark on Seville's collective memory.
- An immersion into the social context, customs, and tensions of the era, beyond the specific event itself.
- A narrative that combines historical rigor with the pace of a novel of intrigue and tragedy.
- A reflection on how honor, jealousy, and economic debt could trigger fatal consequences in high society.
Technical Details
- Author: Martorell, Miguel
- Publisher: Ediciones del Viento, S.L.
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: Historical, political, and military biography, Modern and contemporary fiction, Historical fiction
- Collection: Viento Céfiro
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication Date: April 2016
- Number of pages: 352
- Weight: 600 g
Editorial Review
This work offers a rigorous and enjoyable approach to a real event that transcends the merely anecdotal. Miguel Martorell succeeds in turning a local episode into a window into the contradictions of an era, combining the precision of a historian with the narrative ability of a chronicler. It is a recommended read for those seeking to understand the dynamics of power, honor, and social class in Restoration Spain, presented through a human and tragic story.