By John Andrews
Although this column could be labelled ‘Book of the month’, it is not intended as a literary review, but a very personal recommendation aimed at busy Newsletter readers.
With this in mind, I will always be guided by three important criteria: an authentic and well researched historical background, well written and compelling prose and strong story-line.
This month’s selection ‘Winter in Madrid’ by C.J. Sansom, published in paperback by Pan Books in 2006, focuses on Franco’s Madrid of 1940, recreated in authentic and chilling detail. This is the traumatized post Civil War city into which stride Harry Brett, reluctant spy at the British Embassy, his old school friend Sandy Forsyth and his girl friend, ex-Red Cross nurse Barbara Clare.
Barbara’s secret mission to find her former lover Bernie Piper, who vanished on the battlefields of the Jarama, together with Harry’s attraction to the lovely Sofia, is played out against a background of fear, corruption and visions of a country in ideological turmoil.
This is a compelling story, minutely observed with a remarkable sense of place.
Next month we go to India, but more of that later!