The Shadow of the Wind

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The Shadow of the Wind ("La sombra del viento") is a 2001 novel by Spanish writer Carlos Ruiz Zafón, and a huge worldwide bestseller. The book was translated into English in 2004 by Lucia Graves, and was subsequently chosen to feature on Richard and Judy's televised book-club. Prior to that it had already achieved huge success on mainland Europe, topping the Spanish bestseller lists for weeks, and gaining praise from the German Ex- Vice-Chancellor and Ex-Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer.

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The novel, set in post- Spanish Civil War Barcelona, concerns a young boy, Daniel. One day just after the war, Daniel's father takes him to the secret Cemetery of Forgotten Books, a huge library of old, forgotten titles lovingly preserved by a select few initiates. According to tradition, everyone initiated to this secret place is allowed to take one book from it, and must protect it for life. Daniel selects a book called The Shadow of the Wind by Julian Carax. That night he takes the book home and reads it, completely engrossed. Daniel then attempts to look for other books by this unknown author, but can find none. All he comes across are stories of a strange man - calling himself Lain Coubert, after a character in one of the book who was in fact the Devil - who has been seeking out Carax' books for decades, buying them all and burning them. In time this mysterious figure seeks out Daniel and attempts to make him part with the book. Terrified, Daniel returns the book to Cemetery. But by now Daniel is already in the middle of a story that began many years ago, and will come to threaten his own life.