Lovers of historical fiction have cause to celebrate with the release of Ruta Sepetys’ latest novel, The Fountains of Silence. Set in 1950’s Spain, it depicts the harsh realities of living under the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, and includes the star-crossed romance between Daniel, a young Texan visiting his mother’s home country, and Ana, a Spanish girl working at the Hilton Hotel.
This story gives the reader a taste of everything, and sheds light on controversial topics. There are discussions on poverty, the war between Republicans and Nationalists, the lost children of Francoism, and more. Major topics collide in The Fountains of Silence in a way that make you question why this era in history hasn’t already been widely written about in modern historical fiction.
At the heart of Sepetys’ latest masterpiece, there’s the budding love story between Daniel and Ana. Witnessing these two young people try to come together is both heart-wrenching and hopeful. Firstly, we have Daniel, the son of a Texan oil tycoon. His mother encourages him to speak Spanish in their home, and to celebrate their heritage. So, when the prospect of a family holiday to Madrid emerges, Daniel is excited. Yet what he doesn’t expect is the political turmoil and consequences of the civil war, still evident after many years. Armed with his camera and the urge to learn the truth, Daniel is set to uncover some heavy realities.
And then there is Ana. A smart young woman who has learnt the hard way not to trust anyone but her family, Ana has ambitions to further herself within her workplace at the Hilton Hotel. Yet someone is blackmailing her, and a friendship with a hotel guest could prove fatal for herself and her family, who rely upon her pay checks to stay off the streets.
The deliberate comparisons drawn between Daniel and Ana serve to broach multiple conversations within The Fountains of Silence, something which Sepetys utilises to full advantage. By drawing these comparisons, the author highlights culture as a main topic of the storyline, and portrays the anxieties faced when someone attempts to bridge cultures. This is seen below in a conversation between Daniel and his mother:
‘“It’s difficult to navigate two cultures,” she once told him. “I feel like a bookmark wedged between chapters.”’
Along with her expert characterisation, Sepetys’ writing style also packs a punch. Her short, rapid fire chapters cut right to the bone, and her sentences zing with meaning. Here is an author that knows how to keep her reader interested, and how to keep them up at night just to finish the next sentence, the next page, or the next chapter. Peppered with factual historical inserts between chapters, The Fountains of Silence is just the right mix of history and fiction.
Conflict is another tool well utilised in this novel. Sepetys carefully weaves alternating points of view together in such a way that creates a near complete image of this time in history. By doing so, the dark secrets of Franco’s dictatorship are uncovered in such a way that leave the reader both shocked and intrigued. There’s never a lull in the story, which just goes to show how well conflict is managed and utilised throughout the novel.
So, should you pick up this book? Yes! A heart-filled story set in a dark time in history, The Fountains of Silence is a worthy addition to modern historical fiction. It will have you both cheering and crying for your favourite characters, all while questioning how wrongs from this time in history were able to be committed, with the lost children of Francoism being one such topic that hit the hardest in this novel. Informative and hopeful, this story will stay with you long after you’ve consumed it. A must read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction!
The Fountains of Silence is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.
Will you be picking up The Fountains of Silence? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
A haunting and romantic novel set in post-war Spain by Carnegie Medal winning author of Salt to the Sea.
Madrid, 1957. Tourists and foreign businessmen flood into Spain under the welcoming guise of sunshine and wine while Spanish citizens are gripped by a dark secret.
Daniel Matheson, the son of an oil tycoon, hopes to connect with the country of his mother’s birth through the lens of his camera. Photography -and fate – introduce him to Ana, a hotel maid, whose family is suffering under the fascist dictatorship of General Franco.
Daniel and Ana’s lives and hearts collide as they unite to uncover the hidden darkness within the city – a darkness that could engulf them all…
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 and the hidden violence of silence.
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