Cathedral of the Sea

Author/Guide: Ildefonso Falcones

Why a Booktrail?

1300s: Although this is a work of fiction, the novel closely follows real historical events in Catalonia during the 1300s under the reign of King Pedro.

ISBN: 978-0525950486
Translator: Nick Caistor
Genre: Fiction, Historical

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What you need to know before your trail

The medieval city of Barcelona is enjoying a golden age of prosperity. Its humblest inhabitants are building, stone by stone, a magnificent church to overlook their harbour.

This is the Cathedral of the Sea

In its shadow, Arnau, a young serf on the run from his feudal lord, struggles to earn his freedom. When King Pedro makes him a baron as a reward for his courage in battle, he hopes his fortunes are at last starting to improve. From his days mired in poverty and destitution, he is finally starting to make a life for himself. But then he is forced to marry Eleonor, a ward of the King whom he does not love.

Despite his unhappiness, his newfound status excites jealousy from his friends who plot his downfall with devastating consequences.

Arnau’s journey is that of slave to nobleman, which will result in the struggle between good and evil, and brother against brother that will change things for ever.

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Travel Guide

Barcelona

Barcelona is the real star of the show – we follow the building of the cathedral Sant Maria de la Mar and its history and place in so many people’s lives.

This is like a book trail in Barcelona of the 1300s and all that that entails – battles, the bubonic plague, the Inquisition and the treatment of women.

“They ran down to Framenors, the Franciscan convent built on the shore at the far wester end of the city wall. When they reached it, the children stared across the beach to the Santa clara convent ,which marked Barcelona’s eastern limit.”