La catedral del mar/ The Cathedral of the sea
by Ildefonso Falcones
published
July 30th 2006
by Grijalbo Mondadori Sa
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binding
Paperback, 672 pages
isbn
9707802790
(isbn13: 9789707802797)
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 271)
No verão de 2006 passei por terras espanholas e lá adquiri um exemplar do romance "La Catedral de Mar", de Idelfonso Falcones. Na altura este livro já ia na sua 16ª edição e era um autêntico campeão de vendas. Para um estreante, foi uma entrada de rompante no circuito dos best-sellers.
Li "La Catedral del Mar" praticamente de um só fôlego. São seiscentas páginas que passam quase sem nos apercebermos disso e que valem bem a pena.
Este romance decorre na Idade Mé...more
Li "La Catedral del Mar" praticamente de um só fôlego. São seiscentas páginas que passam quase sem nos apercebermos disso e que valem bem a pena.
Este romance decorre na Idade Mé...more
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Read in June, 2008
I thought this book was seriously overrated. Honestly, I wouldn't have bothered to finish it, except that I had a very long trip and nothing else to read. First of all, I found the translation very awkward. It started to flow better towards the end of the book, but, especially at the beginning, the language felt a little stilted. Then, I felt like the sections didn't flow naturally from one to the other. I often felt like some of the characters were not really the same people they had been ...more
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This novel has been an international sensation and is just now published in the U.S. It has been compared, and I think rightly so, to Ken Follet’s seminal epic from the 1980s, Pillars of the Earth. The novel is set in medieval Barcelona, which in and of itself makes it interesting, as we don’t often see books set in that time and place. At the center of the novel is the “people’s cathedral” of Barcelona, Santa Maria de la Mar, a real church remarkable not only for its beauty and the fa...more
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Read in June, 2008
La novela, enmarcada en el siglo XIV, cuenta la vida de Arnau Estanyol, el hijo de un siervo fugado que vive en Barcelona. A lo largo de una interesante trama se sigue con detalle el progreso de Arnau en sus intentos de tirar adelante y de progresar socialmente.
En mi opinión, como novela no vale nada. Pero nada absolutamente. Un estilo horrible, Falcones utiliza palabras con distinto significado del que tienen (por ejemplo, credibilidad en lugar de credulidad, que me dejó muerta). Además,...more
En mi opinión, como novela no vale nada. Pero nada absolutamente. Un estilo horrible, Falcones utiliza palabras con distinto significado del que tienen (por ejemplo, credibilidad en lugar de credulidad, que me dejó muerta). Además,...more
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Read in July, 2007
My parents gave me this Spanish-language book for my birthday, and I have to hand it to them for gifting me such a great combination of two of my favorite interests: fiction and history. The novel is set in 14th century Catalunia, in Barcelona in particular, and though driven by strong characters and a twisting plot that quickly drew me in, the history of the Catalans and their premier city on the sea plays a great role in this work. The author, obviously a Catalan proud of his people's histor...more
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Read in August, 2008
This novel is set in the early 14th century in Barcelona. It begins on the farm of Bernat Estanyol, a serf, some ways from the city, where the feudal lord has taken 'Droit de seigneur' on the Bernat's new bride - i.e. he has raped her. Nine months later she gives birth, and the baby, Arnau, is Bernat's, not the feudal lord. Things go from bad to worse, as the bride sinks into a deep depression, and is then called to the castle, there to be humiliated and repeatedly raped, and finally forced to g...more
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Read in December, 2007
Me gustó mucho la forma tan detallada en la que elabora el libro. La forma en la que da los detalles te hace imaginar las escenas sin mucho trabajo. La devoción de Arnau por la virgen es muy hermosa, me gustó mucho como desde niño se apegó a la virgen como madre y como fue ayudando a la catedral a construirse.
Lo único que me dejó un poquito consternada es la manera en la cual las mujeres fuimos las malas de la historia. Claro que personajes como el primer señor feudal fueron clave p...more
Lo único que me dejó un poquito consternada es la manera en la cual las mujeres fuimos las malas de la historia. Claro que personajes como el primer señor feudal fueron clave p...more
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recommends it for:
Todos.
Impresionante obra narrativa, en la que se puede encarnizar la vida de Arnau Estanyol, una vida llena de altibajos y aventuras trepidantes te mantienen atado al libro hasta que terminas la ultima pagina.
Durante todo ese tiempo la historia de trasfondo es la construccion de la catedral de Barcelona, a mi parecer mas bien es la historia de la construccion y su relacion con Arnau pero bueno esa es otra historia.
La maestria con la que Falcones describe cada detallle, cada momento de la historia...more
Durante todo ese tiempo la historia de trasfondo es la construccion de la catedral de Barcelona, a mi parecer mas bien es la historia de la construccion y su relacion con Arnau pero bueno esa es otra historia.
La maestria con la que Falcones describe cada detallle, cada momento de la historia...more
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Read in June, 2006
recommends it for:
Lovers of the city of Barcelona
Superb historical novel set in the 13th century (I don't remember exactly) during the construction of the Santa Maria del mar cathedral currently in the neighbourhood of La Ribera in Barcelona.
Many compare the book to Ken Follet's Pillars of the Earth (which I have on the shelf, but nor read yet). It is simply well written, full of historical detail.
One criticism is perhaps the "catalan pride" content, which at times is a little too explicit. Nevertheless, the novel IS set in...more
Many compare the book to Ken Follet's Pillars of the Earth (which I have on the shelf, but nor read yet). It is simply well written, full of historical detail.
One criticism is perhaps the "catalan pride" content, which at times is a little too explicit. Nevertheless, the novel IS set in...more
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Read in November, 2007
This story is settled in Barcelona (Spain) in the 12th century. It's about the life and fortunes (and misfortunes) of an ex-serf, from his birth to his older years. His life is often connected to the Cathedral of the Sea, a church that was being built at the time.
It's a very long book, that gives quite a fascinating picture of that time, with wars, feudal relationships, slavery, the Inquisition, but it's also often slow. Its main problem, however, is that there can't seem to be a woman whose m...more
It's a very long book, that gives quite a fascinating picture of that time, with wars, feudal relationships, slavery, the Inquisition, but it's also often slow. Its main problem, however, is that there can't seem to be a woman whose m...more
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Read in December, 2006
Usualmente soy un tanto escéptico cuando se trata de best-sellers, pero este libro ha sido la excepción. Se trata de una novela histórica situada en la Barcelona medieval, en la que la vida del personaje se desarrolla de manera paralela a la construcción de Santa María del Mar, la catedral del mar. Vale, no estamos ante un clásico de la literatura contemporánea, pero si está muy bien escrito y sobre todo, documentado. Se disfruta.
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Read in May, 2008
Picked this up because I really loved Pillars of the Earth and World Without End. This is advertized as a Spanish equivalent "International Bestseller." I found it interesting but uneven. A little too heavy on facts and names not common to those unfamiliar with the history of the area at this time. Could have been improved if more explanation was given. The book picked up complexity and more of my interest after the first half - but in a book this length (600+ pages), others may h...more
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Read in September, 2008
recommended to Sarah by:
Donna SimpsonThis review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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"La catedral del mar" es una trama en la que se entrecruzan lealtad y venganza, traición y amor, guerra y peste, en un mundo marcado por la intolerancia religiosa, la ambición material y la segregación social. Todo ello convierte a esta obra no solo en una novela absorbente, sino . también en la más fascinante y ambiciosa recreación de las luces y sombras de la época feudal. Es una novela muy interesante y pasado los primeros capitulos es imposible dejar de leer el libro.
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Read in April, 2008
This is a fantasic historical novel based in 14th c. Catalonia.It has everything...Inquistion, love, hatred, loyalty & betrayal. The protagonist is not a perfect guy, his foibles will make him even more real to readers. The importance of the Catholic church to a community as well as to a country is paramount to this story as we follow the building of the "peoples" church. Hours will slip by as you become more and more involved in this novel. It is a must read.
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Read in September, 2008
There's a brutal rape about 3 pages in and pretty much every female character suffers the same fate. Other than that..a good read about medieval Barcelona with lots of adventure and historical details. The main character is way too enlightened to be historically believable (anti-slavery, friends with Jews and Muslims)but I don't think it's going for 100% historical accuracy. A hefty book, but an easy read.
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Read in June, 2008
recommended to Susan by:
John Fellas (but he didn't read it!)
I confess that it was hard to put it down, a real page-turner at times, but overall, weirdly predictable with annoyingly thin characters. But interesting material for devotees of historical novels and horrifyingly realistic details about the plight of women in medieval Spain. The author is a lawyer, so the legal plots and the long descriptions of financial intricacies were hard for me to wade through.
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Read in November, 2007
I've only just begun this book, but I like it so far, whether it's because of the awesome new words in Spanish I'm learning or because of the plot, I'm not sure. It's about feudalism in Spain in the 1200s. I'll be honest: I didn't know feudalism even existed outside of England and France (shows what I know). If I can get through all 638 pages I'll let you know how it ends.
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Exciting book about the construction of a church (Iglesia de Santa Maria del Mar)in Barcelona's old town. Since the book was launched, this church is an obligated spot to visit for every tourist. I did it last summer at the time I was reading the book. The experience was awesome.
If you liked "The Pillars of the Earth", this book you will enjoy this book too.
If you liked "The Pillars of the Earth", this book you will enjoy this book too.
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Read in June, 2008
recommended to Georgina by:
Michael W. Mathes
Definitivamente es una de las mejores historias noveladas o novelas históricas que he leído. Muy recomendable.
Desde que la conocí, en 1998, me quedé enamorada de la ciudad de Barcelona, de su ritmo, su aire, sus olores, sus formas... Leer este libro es revivir en muchos sentidos aquel viaje y aprender más sobre la historia de aquella ciudad.
Desde que la conocí, en 1998, me quedé enamorada de la ciudad de Barcelona, de su ritmo, su aire, sus olores, sus formas... Leer este libro es revivir en muchos sentidos aquel viaje y aprender más sobre la historia de aquella ciudad.
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