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Title details for Guernica by Dave Boling - Available

Guernica

A Novel

by Dave Boling
Lloyd James
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
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Calling to mind such timeless war-and-love classics as Corelli's Mandolin and The English Patient, Guernica is a transporting novel that thrums with the power of storytelling and is peopled with characters driven by grit and heart.


In 1935, Miguel Navarro finds himself in conflict with the Spanish Civil Guard and flees the Basque fishing village of Lekeitio to make a new start in Guernica, the center of Basque culture and tradition. In the midst of this isolated bastion of democratic values, Miguel finds more than a new life—he finds someone to live for. Miren Ansotegui is a charismatic and graceful dancer who has her pick of the bachelors in Guernica, but she focuses only on the charming and mysterious Miguel. The two discover a love that war and tragedy cannot destroy.


History and fiction merge seamlessly in this beautiful novel about the resilience of family, love, and tradition in the face of hardship. The bombing of Guernica was a devastating experiment in total warfare by the German Luftwaffe in the run-up to World War II. For the Basques, it was an attack on the soul of their ancient nation; for the world, it was an unprecedented crime against humanity. In his first novel, Boling reintroduces the event and paints his own picture of a people so strong, vibrant, and proud that they are willing to do whatever it takes to protect their values, their country, and their loved ones.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    September 16, 2008

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781400128730
      • File size: 375882 KB
      • Duration: 13:03:05

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      The calm with which Lloyd James narrates this novel underscores the difficult subject matter and gives it a weight that a more dramatic interpretation would have lessened. Set during WWII, this mix of fiction and nonfiction is centered around the bombing of the small town of Guernica, Spain--chosen randomly as the place to practice for future bombings--by German planes. Boling mines historical information and combines it with a touching love story between a British pilot and a relief worker. James handles the material with aplomb, given the atrocities rendered. The account of the bombing itself, halfway through the story, is stunning. Fans of THE ENGLISH PATIENT will definitely want to give this a listen. M.T. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      July 7, 2008
      Examining the Spanish Civil War and the town that was famously firebombed by the Germans on the eve of WWII, this multigenerational family saga begins with the three abandoned Ansotegui boys, struggling to survive on the family farm at the end of the 19th century; younger brothers Josepe and Xabier become a fisherman and a priest, respectively, while the eldest, Justo, marries and raises a stunning daughter named Miriam. Charismatic, beautiful and the best jota dancer around, Miriam attracts the attention of Miguel Navarro, who winds up moving them to ill-fated Guernica after a run-in with the Spanish Civil Guard. Meanwhile, in nearby Bilbao, Father Xabier waxes political with real-life future Basque president José Antonio Aguirre, striking up an invaluable friendship. Boling's portrait of the Guernica tragedy is vivid, as is his illustration of the Basque people's oppression; wisely, he sidesteps elaborate political explanations that could slow the family drama. Boling is skillful with characters and dialogue, possessing a great sense of timing and humor, though some historical cameos feel forced (especially Picasso, who pops up throughout), and some plot twists can be seen from quite a long way off.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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