Cathedral of the Sea [Paperback]

An exciting, very readable adventure novel, enriched by realistic descriptions of medieval life, work, finance and politics. --Independent

The international bestseller...now in an impressively graceful translation which captures beautifully the archaic and lyrical tone of the narrative.

The ambitious yarn binds you into its thrall - a bold work of imagination.

A powerful historical saga set in 14th century Barcelona that spans slavery, serfdom and anti-Semitism, friendship and thwarted love.

A spell-binding drama set against the sprawling canvas of the medieval age - a bestselling historical masterpiece

A masterful eipc of love, war, treason, plague, famine, witchcraft, anti-Semitism and the Inquisition.

14th-century Spain, the medieval city of Barcelona is enjoying a golden age of prosperity. Its humblest inhabitants are building, stone by stone, a magnificent church to overlook their harbour. This is the Cathedral of the Sea: a church to be built for the people by the people.

In its shadow, Arnau, a young serf on the run from his feudal lord, struggles to earn his freedom. After famine, plague and thwarted love, Arnau's fortunes begin to turn when King Pedro makes him a baron as a reward for his courage in battle. But he is also forced to marry Eleonor, a ward of the King whom he does not love. His newfound status excites jealousy from his friends who plot his downfall with devastating consequences. Arnau's journey from slave to nobleman is the story of a struggle between good and evil that will turn Church against State and brother against brother ...

CATHEDRAL OF THE SEA

Ildefonso Falcones

Black Swan logo

A spell-binding drama of love, war, greed and revenge in medieval Barcelona...

A young serf in fourteenth century Spain, Arnau is on the run from his feudal lord. Through famine, plague and thwarted love he struggles to earn his freedom in the shadow of the mighty Cathedral of the Sea: a magnificent church being built by the humblest citizens of the city.

Arnau's fortunes begin to turn when King Pedro makes him a baron in reward for his courage in battle. But his new-found wealth excites the jealousy of his friends, who begin to plot against him, with devastating consequences.

'Falcones' intricately plotted novel...binds you into its thrall. A bold work of imagination, which pays homage to lives gone by as well as to the great church itself' Daily Express

'An exciting, very readable adventure novel, enriched by realistic descriptions of medieval life, work, finance and politics'

Independent

9780552773973

www.rbooks.co.uk

Ildefonso Falcones is married with four children and lives in Barcelona where he works as a lawyer. Cathedral of the Sea is intended as a homage to a people who built one of the most beautiful churches on earth in only fifty-four years. First published in Spain where it has become a publishing phenomenon, translation rights have been sold in thirty-six countries. It has won many prizes, including the Euskadi de Plata 2006 for the best novel in Spanish, the Qué Leer 2007 Prize for the best book, and the prestigious Italian Giovanni Boccaccio 2007 award for best foreign author.