book data
170 ratings, 3.49 average rating, 52 reviews
(more data...)
edit
published
October 6th 2006
(first published 2007)
by Pan Books
binding
Paperback, 200 pages
isbn
0330411985
(isbn13: 9781405089081)
description
Part thriller, part love story, this is a remarkable tale set against the backdrop of Spain's bloody Civil War and war-torn London. Winter in Madrid f...more
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »
friend reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
This book is currently not featured on any Listopia lists.
Add this book to your favorite list »
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 290)
Read in August, 2008
recommends it for:
I would not recommend it at all
It was difficult to keep on reading this book and I hated the ending.
The author did not succeed in making his characters likeable and I could not identify with the main character at all. I found myself not caring what happened to them. That said I was annoyed at how the main characted seemed to have given up on life in the epilogue. All in all it was tedious and I'm happy to have finally finished it.
The book is not very well written all in all and interesting only because I learned a lo...more
The author did not succeed in making his characters likeable and I could not identify with the main character at all. I found myself not caring what happened to them. That said I was annoyed at how the main characted seemed to have given up on life in the epilogue. All in all it was tedious and I'm happy to have finally finished it.
The book is not very well written all in all and interesting only because I learned a lo...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in March, 2008
I did not enjoy the end of this book, but I don't want to give it away, so I won't say anything more. I did enjoy most of the book however. I was unfamiliar with most of the details of Franco's regime, and it was interesting to read about all the different factions. The main character, Harry Brett, is sent to Spain to spy on his old school friend, Sandy Forsyth, who is involved with the Fascists in Spain. Harry and Sandy had gone to school with another boy, Bernie Piper, who is presumed dead...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in May, 2008
Oh dear. I hate giving up on a book.
I'm 190 pages in, and it suddenly dawned on me that I had never read For Whom The Bell Tolls. Doh! The Great American Novel About The Spanish Civil War!!! So on to Hemingway.
What happened? I felt my feet being sucked into the prose muck, and my boots being sucked off. Too much time devoted to characters not quite worth that much time. I kept looking at the clock, subtracting the page number from the total page count. In short - I was bored.
I recent...more
I'm 190 pages in, and it suddenly dawned on me that I had never read For Whom The Bell Tolls. Doh! The Great American Novel About The Spanish Civil War!!! So on to Hemingway.
What happened? I felt my feet being sucked into the prose muck, and my boots being sucked off. Too much time devoted to characters not quite worth that much time. I kept looking at the clock, subtracting the page number from the total page count. In short - I was bored.
I recent...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in October, 2008
reccomended summer mystery novel number 2!
I'm calling it. This book is worthy of my five stars. Mostly because the answer is yes to all of these questions: did I want to read it with every spare moment I had? Did I constantly find myself thinking about the book when I wasn't reading it, wishing I could find out what was going to happen next? Did I learn something about history I didn't know before- this thime being facism and spain and WWII? Did I love the characters? Did I love all of the r...more
I'm calling it. This book is worthy of my five stars. Mostly because the answer is yes to all of these questions: did I want to read it with every spare moment I had? Did I constantly find myself thinking about the book when I wasn't reading it, wishing I could find out what was going to happen next? Did I learn something about history I didn't know before- this thime being facism and spain and WWII? Did I love the characters? Did I love all of the r...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
[Update: I said 'Not bad' when half way in. Important safety tip. Don't do that. The second half grinds ponderously on, and on. Only 50 pages left, and still nothing has happened. When, if, something happens I hope our dawdling diddling heroes are all caught and tortured to death. I've got my fingers crossed. This book make me root for Franco.]
Not bad. But, since reading Peter Wyden's The Passionate War, I'm a sucker for anything even remotely relating to the Spanish Civil War, fi...more
Not bad. But, since reading Peter Wyden's The Passionate War, I'm a sucker for anything even remotely relating to the Spanish Civil War, fi...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in March, 2008
recommends it for:
fans of historical fiction about 1936-1939 Spanish civil war era
A story of political intrigue, suspense, action, and a little bit of (stilted) romance...good historical fiction that spins you back into early 1940's Spain, at the tail end of the horrific Spanish civil war. If you're interested in that era (as I am, my mother's family having lived through it) then you'll like this for the intimate detail it provides about the lives of ordinary Spaniards under a fascist regime; if not, the writing's good but probably not strong enough to get you to the end.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 2008
A British soldier, wounded during WWII, is sent home and becomes the perfect candidate to spy on his school buddy who is now making a living in Spain. Taking place in 1940, after the Spanish Civil War, this book shows a bit of the "after life" from the perspective of British living in Madrid.
This book was quite entertaining, even though a bit too long. However, I think there was something lacking on the characters as I didn't have the feeling that this could have been a real story.
This book was quite entertaining, even though a bit too long. However, I think there was something lacking on the characters as I didn't have the feeling that this could have been a real story.
Read in January, 2008
the afterward of this book was a disappointment, and it felt out of place with the style of the rest of the novel, almost as if it was an afterthought or appeasement for a publisher. that being said the rest of the novel was well written, and provided some idea of the spanish civil war, a topic that has been overlooked in both history and fiction. written by a scholar of history, samson melds the story of friendship and love with the socio-political realities of the time.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in April, 2007
This book was selected from someone in my book club and I was luke-warm about it to begin with. Partly because of my utter lack of knowledge about the history of Spain during WWII and I also kept sort of forgetting who all of the minor characters were. But, I am so glad I finished it, because by the last 1/3 of the book, I could barely tear myself away, it was that good. And at the end...a very useful summary of the history of Spain.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in December, 2007
recommends it for:
people with not much else to do.
While I am obsessed with the Spanish Civil War, Spain's role during World War II, and the International Brigades, I don't understand why there aren't more good books about Spain. Maybe they just aren't written in English. This is little more than a poorly drawn Harlequin romance full of obvious plot twists, cliches, and an unsatisfying rushed ending. But I had the flu and read it and it was fine for that.
Like this review?
yes
2 comments
This is a spy novel that kind of reminds me of a LeCarre novel, only not as good. It is set in 1940 with the Spanish Civil War just over. I really, really enjoyed learning about the war through the fiction characters. It's easier for me to read history simplified like that. I also liked this book because I have been to both the cities of Madrid and Cuenca where the majority of the novel is set.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2008
recommends it for:
Andy Krell
This is the same author who writes the Matthew Shardlake novels, and I was really keen to see how well he stepped outside that and into a little different genre. I'm pleased to say, he does it very well. Very good characters and a historically accurate background make for a very good read. The plot is quite slow througout, which makes for a bit of a slog at times, but over all a very good read.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in May, 2008
I finally finished this book and though it took me a long time to get through it (due to how much other work i had lately..not because it wasn't good), I really enjoyed it. I love the intermingling of history and fiction. I really enjoyed the twists and turns of the plot. It was tragic yet hopeful at the same time; it's amazing how love grows and endures even in the most inhospitable conditions.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in September, 2008
Narrated By: Gordon Griffin
Published By: Recorded Books, LLC
Best-selling British author C.J. Sansom has been awarded the Ellis Peters Historical Dagger Award. Winter in Madrid is set just after the bloody Spanish Civil War, with World War II looming over Europe. Reluctantly, Harry Brett looks for an old schoolmate who’s become a person of interest for British intelligence.
Published By: Recorded Books, LLC
Best-selling British author C.J. Sansom has been awarded the Ellis Peters Historical Dagger Award. Winter in Madrid is set just after the bloody Spanish Civil War, with World War II looming over Europe. Reluctantly, Harry Brett looks for an old schoolmate who’s become a person of interest for British intelligence.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in April, 2007
recommends it for:
Everyone!
I really enjoyed it. It is very interesting, even though it´s fiction, the historical background has a strong presence in the plot and I have learned so much about Spanish history! Very well written, and tells about the human side to all wars and their horrible aftermath. I have to admit that I found the ending very disappointing, though...
Like this review?
yes
2 comments
Read in August, 2006
A highly satisfying if slightly downbeat thriller/romance rich in the detail of its historical setting in Franco's wartime Spain. It's a shame the main focus is all on the English characters and that the Spanish ones are considered expendable, but it makes you want to find out more about the Spanish Civil war which can only be a good thing..
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Well written and interesting from a historical perspective. It did liven up my interest in the Spanish Civil War which Homage to Catalonia never quite managed to.
The ending is a disappointment though, which is why I couldn't quite give it 4 stars. Why can't we give half stars??
The ending is a disappointment though, which is why I couldn't quite give it 4 stars. Why can't we give half stars??
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in November, 2008
I started this because I'm eager to learn more about the Spanish Civil War, but it's very focused on a soldier's experience. The writing is good, but I just can't stay interested. I have to admit I probably won't finish it. Maybe I'll give it to my grandpa who likes soldier stories.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2008
I loved this book when I started out: "traumatized english soldier turns Spy in Madrid" - although I really did like the story, too much time was spent on characters who were not important enough for the plot but most importantly; I could totally not identify with the main character.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
to-read
(on 87 people's shelves)
currently-reading (on 34 people's shelves)
fiction (on 6 people's shelves)
mysteries (on 2 people's shelves)
novels (on 1 person's shelf)
susanreccomends (on 1 person's shelf)
mystery (on 1 person's shelf)
2008-print (on 1 person's shelf)
war (on 1 person's shelf)
classic-novels (on 1 person's shelf)
More shelves...
currently-reading (on 34 people's shelves)
fiction (on 6 people's shelves)
mysteries (on 2 people's shelves)
novels (on 1 person's shelf)
susanreccomends (on 1 person's shelf)
mystery (on 1 person's shelf)
2008-print (on 1 person's shelf)
war (on 1 person's shelf)
classic-novels (on 1 person's shelf)
More shelves...
groups with this book
