SuitabookFreedom under dictatorship
People in 1957 Spain face control, denunciation, intimidation and suppression under Franco’s regime.
Loading your next page
Book details
Ruta Sepetys - Author
A historically grounded story about two young people whose connection exposes how dictatorship, wealth and silence shape personal choices. It combines romance and danger with questions about freedom, identity and responsibility.
--*Madrid, 1957*-- **UNDER THE OPPRESSIVE DICTATORSHIP** of General Francisco Franco, Spain is hiding a dark secret. Meanwhile, tourists and foreign businessmen flood into Spain under the welcoming promise of sunshine and wine. Among them is eighteen-year-old Daniel Matheson, the son of an oil tycoon, who arrives in Madrid with his parents hoping to connect with the country of his mother's birth through the lends of his camera. Photography--and fate--introduce him to Ana, whose family's interweaving obstacles reveal the lingering grasp of the Spanish Civil War, as well as chilling definitions of fortune and fear. Daniel's photographs leave him with uncomfortable questions amidst shadows of danger. He is backed into a corner of difficult decisions to protect those he loves. Lives and hearts collide, revealing an incredibly dark side to the sunny Spanish city. Master storyteller Ruta Sepetys once again shines light into one of history's darkest corners in this epic, heart-wrenching novel about identity, unforgettable love, repercussions of war, and the hidden violence of silence--inspired by the true postwar struggles of Spain. Includes vintage media reports, oral history commentary, photos, and more.
Book Brief
Sign in to see how this book fits your child and family preferences.
Sign in for personalised guidanceA historically grounded story about two young people whose connection exposes how dictatorship, wealth and silence shape personal choices. It combines romance and danger with questions about freedom, identity and responsibility.
People in 1957 Spain face control, denunciation, intimidation and suppression under Franco’s regime.
Foreign tourists and wealthy visitors enjoy Spain while local people experience the consequences of dictatorship.
The story includes arrests, intimidation, beatings, torture, killings, stolen or dead babies, past abuse, smoking and drinking. Romance includes kissing, a presumed adult night together and a prostitution accusation.
This is a grounded book brief while Suitabook strengthens the analysis: some draft conclusions still depend on unresolved evidence.
Book information
Limited information
Anything not established here remains open; it is not being treated as absent or safe.