Cathedral of the Sea in Around the Year in 52 Books

Jun 09, 2022 Book Concierge rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: concierge, library, book-club, latino-literature, historical-fiction, spain, racism, religion

Spanish journalists / reviewers have called Falcones the “Spain’s new Dan Brown” or proclaimed “A new Ken Follett is born!” I can certainly see why those comparisons are made.

This is an epic historical novel set in 14th-century Barcelona, and focusing on one (fictional) bastaix (a laborer who loaded/off loaded cargo from ships, but also carried the massive stones used to construct the Basillica from the quarry to the construction site). Arnau is motherless due to a cruel feudal system, but he h Spanish journalists / reviewers have called Falcones the “Spain’s new Dan Brown” or proclaimed “A new Ken Follett is born!” I can certainly see why those comparisons are made.

This is an epic historical novel set in 14th-century Barcelona, and focusing on one (fictional) bastaix (a laborer who loaded/off loaded cargo from ships, but also carried the massive stones used to construct the Basillica from the quarry to the construction site). Arnau is motherless due to a cruel feudal system, but he has a loving father. When he and his friend / “brother” Joan (a street urchin who is also motherless) stumble upon the site of the church, Arnau becomes devoted to the Virgin Mary, praying to her and devoting his life to seeing that she is honored with a church worthy of her. He’ll need those prayers, and Joan (who becomes a Dominican and an Inquisitor) to survive what the years have in store for him.

My, oh my, but the medieval era was hard to survive! As if plague, poverty, wars, and a feudal system that virtually enslaved the peasants wasn’t enough, the people also had to deal with the Spanish Inquisition and the hysteria engendered by the Church.

I was perturbed by the way Falcones treated the women in the novel. I fully understand that this is the 14th century and that the system in place did not value women much, but I got the distinct impression that the author shares that sentiment. Perhaps I’m being unfair, but that was the feeling I got. There were only a couple of “good” women; mostly they were immoral, conniving, cruel, and self-centered.

Still, this was an engaging story that kept me turning pages … all 611 of them.

Afterwards I looked up the Cathedral of the Sea and found that it’s location in Barcelona is one I must have passed several times when I visited that city. Yet, I have no memory of it. Having read this book I really want to go back to Barcelona and spend time marveling at the feat of medieval engineering and thinking about the many bastiaxos who toiled to bring the architect’s design to life.
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Jun 11, 2018 Tania rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Set in 14th century Barcelona, Falcones presents his fictional story set against a historical backdrop. Bernat Estanyol has his life ahead of him when he agrees to marry Francesca. But once a feudal lord disrupts his wedding, Estanyol's days running the family farm are numbered. His son Arnau becomes his sole concern, Bernat wishes a better future for Arnau and does all he can to ensure it. Arnau and his adopted brother Joan give all their youthful exuberance to the church, Santa Maria de la Mar ...more

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Jun 25, 2009 Viktoriya rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009

What a pleasure this book is!!!

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Jul 15, 2010 Trish rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010

I was a little hesitant starting out, but I ended up really liking it. It was one of those books that has parts where you really want to know what is going to happen, so you "skim" through and have to make yourself go back and actually read it. Good book. Nice conclusion. Not a book where you hate yourself for spending a bunch of time on it because the ending sucks. ...more

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