He realizado hace apenas unos días la adquisición de un lote que incluye todo el contenido de una vieja masía señorial propiedad de una vieja familia catalana, los Bergués. En su biblioteca, he descubierto algo increíble, capaz de colmar las expectativas de un anticuario. No me atrevo a revelarte nada hasta haber comprobado que no se trata de las imaginaciones de un viejo y que su fundamento se revela cierto. Por algún motivo que no alcanzo a comprender, estoy intranquilo; esto es algo que, por primera vez en muchos años, me supera por completo.
Enrique Alonso, escritor, recibe una carta de su padre adoptivo, Artur Aiguader, un conocido anticuario de Barcelona. En ella, éste le relata el hallazgo de un antiguo manuscrito redactado en latín y catalán que parece ponerle sobre la pista de una joya de un pasado remoto. Por desgracia, Aiguader no verá cumplido su sueño de encontrarla pues será asesinado. Alonso se trasladará a Barcelona con el objetivo de desvelar la incógnita del manuscrito, localizar la joya y resolver el asesinato.

3.5 Stars

Spanish novelist Julian Sanchez's The Antiquarian is an intriguing mystery set in modern day Barcelona. At the heart of this story is an ancient manuscript included with an estate lot purchased by antiquarian Artur Aiguader, a manuscript that contains information about the origins and location of a powerful, mythical object. When Artur is found murdered in his shop, there is little evidence to suggest why such a heinous crime was committed on a well-respected man like Artur. Enrique Alonso, Artur's adopted son, receives a letter from his father posted shortly before his death. While Artur recognized the historical value of the manuscript, his letter also revealed his misgivings about the information contained within it. Thinking the manuscript could be the key to solving Artur's murder, Enrique decides to investigate his father's death himself and, with the help of his ex-wife Bety, attempt to uncover the mysterious object described in the manuscript. But Enrique and Bety are not the only ones searching for the object, and these others will stop at nothing to find it.

One of this novel's greatest strengths is Julian Sanchez's lovely, descriptive prose. Through this prose Sanchez is able to bring Barcelona and its antiquarian community vibrantly to life. In this respect, this novel reminded me of another atmospheric novel set in Barcelona, The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Another strength is the characters, particularly Enrique and Bety, who are well-developed and sympathetic. While the individual revealed as Artur's murderer will likely comes as no surprise to many readers, the novel's ultimate conclusion is nevertheless gripping and satisfying. While an engaging novel overall, with a plot that moves at a relatively steady pace throughout most of the book, the story does get somewhat bogged down at about the half-way point by the inclusion of detailed accounts of the origins of both the ancient manuscript and the mysterious object it is concerned with. Rather than enhance the main story line, this background interrupts the novel's flow and significantly slows the progression of the story. While the inclusion of some of this background is necessary to the advancement of the plot, given the number of pages used to convey it, many of the important elements end up somewhat lost in the narrative. When the focus of the book shifts back to Enrique and Bety's quest, the pace once again picks up.

An overall enjoyable novel, The Antiquarian is recommended to readers who enjoy atmospheric mysteries and thrillers.

Note: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. ( )

Un libro muy entretenido que, como «La sombra del viento» de Carlos Ruiz Zafón, «La catedral del mar» de Ildefonso Falcones o «La historia interminable» de Michael Ende, gira en torno a un libro.

Está escrita muy bien y el hilo de la intriga está elaborado. Se pasa un buen rato. A pesar de ello las editoriales no han decidido publicársela hasta pasados quince años desde que acabó de escribirla.

Destacable incluso el colofón: «Este libro utiliza el tipo Aldus, que toma su nombre del vanguardista impresor del Renacimiento italiano, Aldus Manutius. Hermann Zapf diseñó el tipo Aldus para la imprenta Stempel en 1954, como una réplica más ligera y elegante del popular tipo Palatino».

+INFO:
• Las 38 primeras páginas: http://www.rocaeditorial.com/cont/catalogo/docsPot/El_Anticuario-Julian_Sanchez....

• Aldo Manuzio: http://www.bellelettere.it/buffaatypi/buffaatypi4.html

--
Sánchez Romero, Julián (1966-). El anticuario / Julián Sánchez. -- 1ª ed. -- Madrid : Roca Editorial, 2009. -- 473 p. ; 24 cm. -- (Misterio). -- ISBN 978-84-92429-80-6 : 20 €

I. Título. II. Serie. 1. Novela de intriga

821.134.2-31"20" ( )

Julián Sánchez's Open Road Author Page

3.5 / 5 stars

Overview

Artur Aiguader is an elderly bibliophile/ bookseller and antiquarian who has a shop in Barcelona. He has recently purchased a lot in which he discovers an intriguing and valuable manuscript. Artur has a premonition and writes a " if something should happen to me" postscript in his letter to his adoptive son. Feeling thus spooked he rebinds the manuscript into another cover and hides it amongst some books of little value in his study.

Working late at the shop - someone known to Artur attacks and kills him. When a dying Artur asks why the murderer replies " Because what you've found must be mine".

Arturs adoptive son Enrique Alonso is a writer in his 30's living in San Sebastian. Well on his way to becoming a modern day hermit - after months of writers block - he has finally finished his book. He receives Arturs cryptic letter only to find that Artur has in fact been murdered.

While the police and a PI hired by Enrique work to find Arturs murderer Enrique and his ex-wife Bety, a philologist, attempt to translate the manuscript and Arturs cryptic notes to find the hiding place of a priceless object from the Middle Ages referred to in the manuscript.

My Thoughts

I enjoyed this book, particularly the insight into the Antiquarian community. It gave the impression of an other-worldly existence of these antiquarians, solitary and studious. The overall feeling I got was that the historical / locational aspects of the book were well researched.

The main characters were interesting and well fleshed out. Enrique and Betys relationship as an ex spouse was realistic in the conflicted feelings that they both still had for each other and of Bety in regards to Enrique's new love interest.

There was enough suspense for me to want to keep turning the pages although I had narrowed it down to a choice of two likely villains a fair way out from the end so the element of real surprise was missing at the close of the book.

This is definitely a book worth reading, it is both interesting and substantial in detail and the mystery is well enough done to keep the readers attention.
( )

Julián Sánchez's Open Road Author Page

3.5 / 5 stars

Overview

Artur Aiguader is an elderly bibliophile/ bookseller and antiquarian who has a shop in Barcelona. He has recently purchased a lot in which he discovers an intriguing and valuable manuscript. Artur has a premonition and writes a " if something should happen to me" postscript in his letter to his adoptive son. Feeling thus spooked he rebinds the manuscript into another cover and hides it amongst some books of little value in his study.

Working late at the shop - someone known to Artur attacks and kills him. When a dying Artur asks why the murderer replies " Because what you've found must be mine".

Arturs adoptive son Enrique Alonso is a writer in his 30's living in San Sebastian. Well on his way to becoming a modern day hermit - after months of writers block - he has finally finished his book. He receives Arturs cryptic letter only to find that Artur has in fact been murdered.

While the police and a PI hired by Enrique work to find Arturs murderer Enrique and his ex-wife Bety, a philologist, attempt to translate the manuscript and Arturs cryptic notes to find the hiding place of a priceless object from the Middle Ages referred to in the manuscript.

My Thoughts

I enjoyed this book, particularly the insight into the Antiquarian community. It gave the impression of an other-worldly existence of these antiquarians, solitary and studious. The overall feeling I got was that the historical / locational aspects of the book were well researched.

The main characters were interesting and well fleshed out. Enrique and Betys relationship as an ex spouse was realistic in the conflicted feelings that they both still had for each other and of Bety in regards to Enrique's new love interest.

There was enough suspense for me to want to keep turning the pages although I had narrowed it down to a choice of two likely villains a fair way out from the end so the element of real surprise was missing at the close of the book.

This is definitely a book worth reading, it is both interesting and substantial in detail and the mystery is well enough done to keep the readers attention.
( )