Description
THE SADNESS OF THE SAMURAI (TENTH ANNIVERSARY EDITION)
Book Summary
This special edition celebrates ten years of a masterpiece of the crime and suspense genre. Víctor del Árbol weaves a masterful plot that connects the post-war period in Extremadura with the Spanish transition in Catalonia, exploring the moral complexity of its characters. The reader is drawn into a narrative where good and evil blur, captivated by a story of Falangists, false accusations, infidelities, and violence. A novel that is impossible to put down and invites reflection on the shadows of the human soul.
What is it about?
The story unfolds across two timelines that intertwine masterfully. In the post-war period, in Mérida (1941-1942), we meet three families whose lives are marked by the violence and repression of the regime. Decades later, during the Spanish transition (1976-1981), in Barcelona and Catalonia, the descendants of those characters find themselves caught in a plot involving a coup d'état, conspiracies, torture, and kidnappings. As the narrative progresses, the author reveals how the acts of the past determine the present, showing that no one is completely innocent. The characters, from Falangists posing as democrats to victims who become executioners, face their own contradictions in a profound and disturbing psychological journey.
Main themes
- The legacy of Francoism and the democratic transition.
- The moral ambiguity between good and evil.
- Gender-based violence and political violence.
- False accusations and the search for truth.
- The psychology of trauma and impossible redemption.
Who is it recommended for?
For readers passionate about crime and suspense novels with a historical background who are looking for complex plots and psychologically deep characters. Also for those who enjoy works that explore 20th-century Spain, from the post-war period to the transition, and who value a narrative that combines the thriller with social reflection.
What this book offers
- A multi-layered crime and mystery plot that maintains tension until the end.
- A detailed psychological portrait of characters trapped between guilt and survival.
- A critical and realistic vision of recent Spanish history, without black-and-white perspectives.
- An absorbing reading experience that hooks you from the very first pages.
Technical data
- Author: DEL ARBOL, VICTOR
- Publisher: ED.ALREVES,S.L
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: FICTION AND RELATED ITEMS, MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY FICTION, CRIME AND MYSTERY GENRE, MYSTERY AND SUSPENSE WORK
- Collection: NARRATIVE
- Publication date: October 2021
- Number of pages: 420
- Weight: 878 g
Editorial review
This tenth-anniversary edition cements The Sadness of the Samurai as a benchmark of the Spanish-language noir genre. Víctor del Árbol demonstrates an exceptional command of narrative structure, alternating time periods and points of view with fluidity. The work stands out for its ability to maintain suspense without sacrificing psychological depth, offering a read that is as much an addictive thriller as it is a reflection on historical memory. Ideal for those seeking a novel that transcends mere entertainment and provokes lasting reflection.