Barcelona-Borinquen

by John David Ferrer

Antonio Roche, a high-class Catalonian anarchist, seeks redemption in the New World after being released from a Barcelona prison. He leaves behind a love interest, Paula Soler, a precocious socialite who seduces a priest and faces the scorn of her family and Spanish society. They meet again years later in San Juan, Puerto Rico when she inherits a sugar plantation managed by Antonio. Both grapple with their new relationship, while economic turmoil, the American military takeover of the island, and three terrifying hurricanes impact the family and their fortunes. Their lives intersect with other immigrants from Spain seeking a better life. All the characters in this multifamily multigenerational saga, experience betrayals in love, broken friendships, and untimely deaths. BARCELONA-BORINQUEN will appeal to bi-cultural audiences who treasure stories of yesteryear brought to the present. It is a story of an era rarely written about that dramatically portrays the endurance of the human spirit.

256 pages, Paperback

Published November 3, 2017

Reviews

[Carol Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author weaves a colorful tapestry of characters who span generations, continents and political philosophies. The well-researched historical events form the backdrop for romantic encounters with social consequences. The cherished dreams of immigrants searching for a better life rise and fall like the tides on the Puerto Rican beaches. Three times, livelihoods are demolished in the wake of hurricanes. The storms: natural, political, social and economic hit the island and uproot entire families and businesses. Yet, loyalties, love and life endure in a testament to the indomitable human spirit.
This is a story that dates back to the 1800s, and yet it is relevant to the struggles of many today. In the wake of Hurricane Maria, the reader is left with a sense that the story continues in a colony with political constraints and economic difficulties that haven't changed in the last 150 years.

[Donald B. McKinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barcelona-Borinquen: An Enjoyable and Informative Read

An enjoyable quick read that provides historical context to a period of Spanish and Puerto Rico histories. The Puerto Rico historical references are particularly helpful in our current political and economic relationships with Puerto Rico. After reading, I would like more on the development of the rum industries in Puerto Rico. A very enjoyable and informative read!

[Nancy Haines · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barcelona Borinquen is a complex love story, spanning decades and two continents. The characters are independent and resilient, and I especially appreciated the strong female characters. Antonio and Paula find different ways to adapt to the new culture in the rapidly changing late nineteenth century. I did not know very much about Puerto Rican history, and the author deftly weaves historical information without getting pedantic. I found myself captivated by the time period, both in Spain and the New World – and I gained an appreciation for the fiercely proud Puerto Ricans of today. I look forward to reading more by this author.