Barcelona Dreaming

Barcelona Dreaming is a novel set in Barcelona on the eve of the 2008 financial crash, narrated by an English woman, an alcoholic jazz pianist, and a translator. It explores themes of addiction, racism, celebrity, immigration, and self-delusion and is a love letter to the city.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2022
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Barcelona Dreaming is a novel that has been shortlisted for the Edward Stanford Prize for Fiction with a Sense of Place. The author's confident and spellbinding prose is filled with uncanny details that captivate the reader and transport them to the heart of Barcelona. The language is elegant and evocative, striking, unsettling, and reawakening at every turn.

The novel is composed of three interconnected stories set on the eve of the financial crash of 2008. These stories are linked by time and place, as well as by the moving and unexpected interactions of a rich cast of characters. The narratives are told by an English woman who runs a gift shop, an alcoholic jazz pianist, and a translator tormented by unrequited love. Each of their lives will be forever changed by the events that unfold.

At the heart of the novel is a crime committed against a young Moroccan immigrant. This crime serves as a backdrop for the exploration of themes such as addiction, racism, celebrity, immigration, and self-delusion. The novel is fueled by a longing for the unattainable and a nostalgia for what is about to be lost. It is a love letter to one of the world's most beautiful cities, Barcelona, and a powerful and poignant fable for our uncertain times.

The author's writing is cool and controlled, yet electrifying. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and their journeys are filled with emotional depth and complexity. The novel's setting in Barcelona adds to its charm, with its vibrant culture, stunning architecture, and rich history.

Barcelona Dreaming is a masterpiece of contemporary fiction that will leave readers pondering its themes long after they have finished reading. It is a testament to the power of storytelling and the ability of literature to capture the essence of a place and time. Whether you are a fan of literary fiction or simply seeking a captivating and thought-provoking read, this novel is a must-read.

Weight: 196g
Dimension: 125 x 196 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472153517