Description
Breaths of Fresh Air
Book Summary
In 1978 Madrid, two families of opposite origins find their fates intertwined by the arrival of a young British punk. The Fernández Piedecasas are fleeing the violence of the Argentine dictatorship, while the Navarro Osunas are grappling with the loss of their privileges following the Franco era. This encounter will unearth a dark, war-torn past that will bind them together irremediably. A novel that explores the clash of ideologies, historical memory, and the search for identity in a Spain in the midst of a democratic transition.
What is it about?
The story takes place in Madrid during 1978, a time of hope and political instability in Spain. The Fernández Piedecasas family arrives from Argentina fleeing the violence of the coup d'état, searching for a safe haven in an uncertain social context. At the other extreme, the Navarro Osuna family faces the loss of their privileges during the Franco dictatorship and the difficulties brought on by the new winds of change. Two families that should never have crossed paths see their roads united by the appearance of a young British punk who travels to Spain in search of his roots. His arrival uncovers a hidden past, marked by war and repression, that inevitably connects both clans.
Main themes
- The Spanish democratic transition and its social and political contradictions.
- Exile and the search for a new home following political violence in Argentina.
- The loss of privilege and forced adaptation to change in post-Franco Spain.
- Historical memory and secrets of the past that emerge to redefine the present.
- The generational and ideological clash represented by the figure of the young British punk.
Who is it recommended for?
For readers interested in historical narrative set in Spain's Transition period, as well as plots that explore political exile and the wounds of the past. It is also suitable for those who enjoy stories of encounters between families with opposing ideologies and characters searching for their identity in contexts of social change.
What this book offers
- A dual and nuanced view of the Spanish Transition, showing both the hopes for and resistance to change.
- A plot that connects the recent history of Spain and Argentina through family ties and exile.
- Complex characters that represent antagonistic political and social stances, enriching the narrative conflict.
- A portrait of Madrid society in the late seventies, with its tensions and cultural openness.
- A reflection on how the history of war and dictatorship continues to influence people's lives decades later.
Technical specifications
- Author: Criseme, Criseme
- Publisher: Con M de Mujer Editorial SL
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: Fiction and related items, Modern and contemporary fiction, Historical fiction
- Collection: Con M de Mujer
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: November 2022
- Number of pages: 378
- Weight: 720 g
Editorial review
This novel offers a solid proposal within contemporary historical fiction by combining the narrative of the Spanish Transition with the Argentine experience of exile. The structure of opposing families and the catalyst of the young British punk provide a dynamism that maintains interest. It is a recommended read for those looking to understand a key period of recent history through an emotional, personal story with well-defined characters and a conflict that transcends the political to delve into the human.