I liked this book very much, it had a very interesting plot and gave a great insight into Spain in the late 1930's. It did take me a while to get into it but then could'nt put it down. ( )

The suspense in this novel builds gradually but relentlessly as the ties among three British citizens in Madrid in 1940, during the immediate aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, pull them ever more tightly into a web of danger. Sansom is more interested in the moral complications created by simplistic loyalties to countries, factions and individuals than he is in writing a nail-biting thriller (though nail-biters will need gloves for the closing chapters), but his writing is always crystal clear, allowing readers to follow a complicated plot with ease, and the suspense builds steadily. Fans of Graham Greene and John le Carré will like Winter in Madrid.

Longer review at www.HistoricalNovels.info

I love it when I unexpectedly come across a book in which the author tells a story around events that actually happened and people who really existed. It makes me want to learn more about the events and how they shaped the lives of the people affected. This is one of those books.

During Spain’s civil war Bernie Piper, a communist from Britain, joined the International Brigades and was sent to fight against the fascists. The last he was heard from was at the battle of Jarama in 1937. Bernie’s parents and his girlfriend, Barbara Clare, ask an old public school friend to help search for him. They come up empty.

Several years later the old friend, Harry Brett, is wounded at Dunkirk and suffers post traumatic stress disorder. Recovering at home in England, he is contacted by the British Secret Service. They are interested in Harry because he can speak several languages and therefore can be put to use - ostensibly as a translator. In reality however, Harry is instructed to spy on another old school friend, Sandy Forsyth, who is busily scheming to take financial advantage of the political situation during World War Two.

Harry is surprised to discover that Barbara is still in Spain and has paired up with Sandy. As the story evolves the reader discovers that all three characters, Harry, Sandy and Barbara are concealing secrets from each other that when revealed, will irretrievably alter the course of their lives.

This book is written in a tone that evokes the era in which it takes place like none other that I’ve read in a long time. Written in period detail and expertly researched, it was easy to picture the cold streets of Madrid, the poverty and desperation of the people, the hopes and fears. I could feel the terror of the children as they were unceremoniously rounded up and delivered to church orphanages for ‘processing’ after their parents, who were deemed enemies of the state, disappeared forever. In fact the author dedicates the book “to the memory of the thousands of children of Republican parents who disappeared into the orphanages of Franco’s Spain”.

The politics in Spain during its civil war and the role it played during the Second World War is complicated to say the least. There is a short historical note at the end of the book explaining the political atmosphere during the years the story takes place. This was helpful in giving insight into some of the real people depicted in the book.

Having read Guernica by Dave Boling not long ago, my interest in what happened in Spain during these difficult years was piqued. As a result, I was very pleased to have the opportunity to read C.J. Sansom’s Winter in Madrid and I highly recommend it. ( )

I enjoyed Winter in Madrid because its characters were all so very flawed. I didn't love any of them- and more surprisingly, most of them didn't even seem to like each other. This led to some awkwardness in scenes, but in general, it was more interesting than awkward. And for all the book's being set in Spain and being about intelligence operations with Spaniards and the clash between Communism and Fascism and the poverty and pain the Spaniards faced... let's be honest, this book is all about England. The end of English imperialism, the English class system, English idealism about sharing their society with the world, etc., etc.

The plot of the book is WWII-era political intrigue and thriller, but the over-arching theme is about sunset falling on the British Empire, as played out by three boarding school alums and a lonely Englishwoman. Personally, I think the theme had a great deal more depth than the plot- but maybe that's because I'm so fascinated by English history.

I also think the Spanish Civil War is overshadowed by World War II, so it was great to read a book that was set in Madrid during this time. It is fascinating and horrifying to read, especially when I compare the Madrid in the novel to the city I visited several years ago, and loved. It's amazing to see how people can rebuild and overcome such atrocities in their history. But maybe that's also part of the reason that subsequent generations are dulled to the pain of the past- because there are so few reminders of what happened.

I enjoyed the book, though it took me some time to read. At over 530 pages, it is a bit long for a political thriller, especially as it isn't fast-paced. But it reminded me of the film noir that was so popular at the time, and the pace of the story fit in very well with the era. I enjoyed it, and if you read it, I hope you'll share your thoughts.

Truncated from full review at:
http://aartichapati.blogspot.com/2009... ( )

Reviewed by Michele at A Reader's Respite:
http://readersrespite.blogspot.com/20...