City of Wonders

The City of Wonders by Eduardo Mendoza... An intense novel translated into fifteen languages and chosen as the best book by Lire magazine in 1988 Barcelona! The city of all wonders, and all miracles, but also the city of all decadence, and all vileness! *** What was Onofre Bofila dreaming of when he entered the bustling gates of Barcelona in preparation for hosting the 1888 World's Fair? During the period between the international exhibitions in Barcelona, in 1888 and 1929, against the backdrop of the noisy and turbulent city, both realistic and imaginary, we follow the gradual rise of Barcelona through the adventures and transformations of Onofre Bofila, the executed immigrant, distributor of chaotic propaganda leaflets, and wandering seller of hair tonic, and his astonishing rise to the top of the financial and criminal power in the city where he would become the wealthiest man, leaving traces everywhere, oh what traces! Smuggling weapons during World War I, land and diamond speculation, selecting women and making them stars, the adventure of flying and exploiting the early days of cinema... But what keeps us in suspense throughout the story is not only Bofila's fantastical character in its depravity and cruelty, but also the narrator's ability to depict colorful characters that develop in dark areas of the upper bourgeoisie of Barcelona. In a kind of black humor, Mendoza presents us with a new and very unique transformation in Spanish roguery literature and a spinning imaginary swing for legends / legendary characters of luxurious places. A satirical and piercing fantasy, brilliantly intelligent, its first foundation being solid realism combined with Mendoza's preservation of the free myth that, without a doubt, influenced the novel and made it a breath-taking story. Author: Eduardo Mendoza Number of pages: 528