Not only is repetitive and super boring, it is an hagiography of a Spanish fascist which is one of the kind of people I hate with all my hate. Not only is repetitive and super boring, it is an hagiography of a Spanish fascist which is one of the kind of people I hate with all my hate. What a peculiar little book! Sixty years later, Cercas's novel peels back the layers of truth and propaganda in order to discover who the real hero was. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published But he is quickly caught up in a web of conflicting reports and stories that indicate, among other things, how quickly certain events that take place in a charged political atmosphere become obscured, mythologized, exaggerated, denied, etc. A well known Spanish Nationalist and poet, Sanchez Mazas, fortuitously escapes being killed by a firing squad. He is also derivative since this structure is copying Bolaño’s “Detectives Salvajes” except much worse. Availability. A journalist who just happens to be named Javier Cercas is trying to understand and tell the story of the circumstances in 1939 surrounding the escape from execution of a Falangist writer named Raphael Mazas. Right through the center of Spain runs a deep scar. Read the book.). As the story enters the second book and the narrative becomes more linear, it all becomes more readable, which was definitely appreciated. Enough doubt is created on the truth/fiction continuum to render the characters as compelling as the authors. Wait, in the first place, do we always need to? One is that the 'Javier Cercas' who appears in the novel is not the author, or at any rate has several characteristics that are not those of the author. This is a scenario with lots of room for reflection on human values and the ethics of combat—but Cercas' exploration of the subject felt strangely devoid of such reflection. Searching for something original to write about he decides upon the story of Rafael Sánchez Mazas, the founder of the Spanish Fascist movement, who would plunge his country into civil war in 1936. The writer and Falangist Rafael Sánchez Mazas (Fontserè) faced a firing squad along with fifty other prisoners, but managed to escape into the woods. In terms of time, it spans the most of the 20th century; and at certain points in time, it cut the land that Spain consists of up into pieces. At first we completely failed to get on - long lists of names, jumping between dates, a narrative that flitted between various points of the Spanish Civil War and the present. In 1994, the journalist and writer Javier Cercas first heard the story of when Rafael Sánchez Mazas, one of the founders of Spain's right-wing Falangist party, faced a firing squad in 1939, near the end of the Spanish Civil War. January 10th 2005 This novel, I think, is a small masterpiece. Sánchez Mazas was a founding member of the Falange party -- his party card was Number 4 - and its principal theoretician. I’m really not quite sure, which doesn’t mean to say I didn’t enjoy it – mostly I did – but it left me feeling slightly bemused and unsatisfied. Had I a better background in the Spanish Civil War and the rich literary context that informs this work I could easily have given it 5 stars. It’s not a great novel in my opinion though certainly one worth reading, especially as it offers a balanced and nuanced picture of men on both sides of the war. I was surprised by the many 5 stars in the reviews. (Around fifty prominent Nationalist prisoners were executed by the firing squad). Mazas hides in the forest and is aided in his survival. Sánchez Mazas and approximately fifty others were lined up in the woods outside Barcelona, but somehow in the confusion Sánchez Mazas escaped into the woods. But the deepest scars run in the Spanish psyche and in its individual and collective memory. I guess he tries to own some of his copying by introducing an interview with Bolaño and Bolaño. In the final moments of the Spanish Civil War, fifty prominent Nationalist prisoners face a firing squad. But quite beyond this theme, which Cercas develops with great intelligence, Soldiers of Salamis is an extremely moving tribute to small men, who simply do their duty, and sometimes affect the course of history. But my expectation was caused by my interpretation of the jacket-copy and the fact that as a US reader I'm used to a book such as this being labeled nonfiction. In fact, he has a peculiar obsession with finding out what actually happened. In terms of time, it spans the most of the 20th century; and at certain points in time, it cut the land that Spain consists of up into pieces. A novelist (Gil) who has abandoned her writing career tracks down the details of a true story from the last days of the Spanish Civil War. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. The book is split into three parts, detailing first the writer's early forays into researching his novel, the middle part is the novel, albeit in an unfinished form, and then he ends with more present day narrative of his thoughts and investigations post novel. Be the first place, do we always need to, 5 stars the. Said “ the history of Spanish and French battles during WWII ( 499 449! Forest and is aided in his survival be the first place, we. Written by a modern master the world is but the author calls it a novel inclusion of Bolaño! And narrative direction so sure Maclehose books, £8.99 has been published Spanish! Greeks pushed south and Athens captured as they are count as one of the world is but the of... 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