The Spanish Girl by Jules Hayes is a gripping and emotionally charged story, set in Spain, in a dual timeline - in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War and in Franco's Spain of 1973, both turbulent and difficult times.
The Spanish Girl
A country torn apart by war.
Two love stories divided by decades.
One chance to discover the truth...
Last year I've reviewed Jules Hayes book The Walls We Build set in the pre-war and war England. Hayes is a master storyteller. I've been reading recently an article on what makes a master storyteller, and one of the points mentioned was that they engage the eyes, i.e. give readers a visual image of what they are talking about.
Hayes creates a perfectly drawn setting for The Spanish Girl. It is full of gorgeous scenery and historical background (you learn about the Spanish history of the 20C, but not as a dry-facts scenario).
The novel opens with a heart-breaking scene in 1937, when a young boy witnesses a horrific event, which will be etched in his memory forever.
Thirty six years later, Isabella Adame has been working as a journalist in Franco's Spain for twenty years. She is a strong, free-spirited woman, who is sympathetic to Basque indepenence. But unlike her mother, she is not extreme in her views. She is working on a new dangerous assignment, meeting up with a mysterious Basque nationalist Rafael Daguerre.
Growing up, Isabella has never found out the truth about her family. As a child, she was fed half-truths by her grandparents Calida and Aurelio. All that is left of her mother is a heart-shaped locket with two photos. There is a mystery behind the disappearance of her mother.
When Isabella meets Rafael, she feels confused. On one hand, she finds him arrogant and his manner over-familiar and patronising. On the other hand, she is instantly attracted to him.
Staying with Rafael's comrade Miguel helps Isabella to do a research for her article, but also gives her a unique opportunity to learn about her parents and unravel her identity. Meeting with comrades and friends of Rafael, she is trying to unravel the tangled story of her heritage that goes back to the dark days of the civil war. And what a story that is?!
Isabella is a skilful journalist, she knows best not to hurry people she's interviewing, waiting for them to confide their secrets in her. "If I'd learnt nothing in twenty years as a journalist, it was not to push a source - not on a first meeting. Time, I was confident, would eventually do my job for me".
The story alternates between Isabella's search for truth, and the secrets of Sofia, the passionate Spanish girl who risked everything for her country. Her family past is difficult, and unconventional. Falling in love with a young British rebel makes things even more complicated.
Two stories unfold, moving back and forward in time, as we discover the wartime secrets. The evocation of the Spanish history is expertly drawn and compelling. Hayes explores the politics and individual lives which are intricately interwoven with the power struggles and political designs.
The Spanish Girl is a story of love and loss, family secrets and identity. It is a passionate, original tale, tightly plotted and absorbing. Impeccably researched, it's a historical novel of remarkable storytelling.
Purchase Links
UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08L7G3M26/
US - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08L7G3M26/
Author Bio.
I have a degree in modern history and I'm fascinated with events from the first half of the 20th century, which is the time period my historical fiction is set.
My work has been longlisted in the Mslexia Novel Competition, and shortlisted in the prestigious Bridport Short Story Competition.
I live in Berkshire, UK with my partner, daughter and dog. Before writing stories, I was a physiotherapist.
Jules Hayes is a pseudonym for JA Corrigan who writes contemporary thrillers. Falling Suns by JA Corrigan (Headline Accent) was published in 2016.
Website: https://www.jules-hayes.com/
Twitter @JulesHayes6 - http://www.twitter.com/JulesHayes6
Facebook Author Page: JulesHayesAuthor - http://www.facebook.com/JulesHayesAuthor
Instagram: JulesHayes6 - http://www.instagram.com/juleshayes6
This post is part of the blog tour for The Spanish Girl.
Many thanks to Jules Hayes and Rachel's Random Resources for the Netgalley copy of the book!
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