Cathedral of the Sea, by Ildefono Falcones (2006)
Cathedral of the Sea is a historical novel set in 14th Century Barcelona. The novel spans from 1320 to 1384 and follows the life of Arnau, who was born into a serfdom. His mother was brutally raped by the landowner on her wedding night and was later forced to become wetnurse to the lord’s family. Arnau’s father escapes with his son to the free city Barcelona where they attempt to make a life together.
Life is not easy, but Arnau and his father find contentment. Arnau became friends with a young boy near his age who becomes his adopted brother, Joan. As children, the two boys were inseparable. They find comfort worshiping at the foot of the Virgin Mary in the cathedral that is being built. Arnau joins the stone-worker’s guild, called bastaixos, while his brother joins the Church. Ultimately, Arnau becomes very wealthy and is instrumental in providing funds to the king for protecting the city. In exchange for providing funds, the king forces Arnau into a marriage with Eleanor, a spiteful baroness. It is a loveless marriage that was never consummated and could be Arnau's downfall.
Arnau befriends members of the city’s Jewish community. This puts him at odds with the Church and the inquisition. Joan has become an inquisitor, Arnau is hauled before his brother to answer for his sins.
[Spoiler Alert: The reader was led to believe that Arnau's mother had died. She appears deep into the novel as a prostitute in Barcelona.
This is a very long novel and was originally written in Spanish. I liked it, but didn’t love it. Perhaps something was lost in translation.
Read: May 27, 2023
3.5 Stars
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