Guernica (Hardcover)
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Description
An extraordinary epic of love, family and war set in the Basque town of Guernica before, during, and after its destruction by the German Luftwaffe during the Spanish Civil War.
Calling to mind such timeless war-and-love classics as Corelli's Mandolin and The English Patient, Guernica is a transporting novel that thrums with the power of storytelling and is peopled with characters driven by grit and heart.
In 1935, Miguel Navarro finds himself in conflict with the Spanish Civil Guard, and flees the Basque fishing village of Lekeitio to make a new start in Guernica, the center of Basque culture and tradition. In the midst of this isolated bastion of democratic values, Miguel finds more than a new life—he finds someone to live for. Miren Ansotegui is a charismatic and graceful dancer who has her pick of the bachelors in Guernica, but focuses only on the charming and mysterious Miguel. The two discover a love that war and tragedy can not destroy.
History and fiction merge seamlessly in this beautiful novel about the resilience of family, love, and tradition in the face of hardship. The bombing of Guernica was a devastating experiment in total warfare by the German Luftwaffe in the run-up to World War II. For the Basques, it was an attack on the soul of their ancient nation; for the world, it was an unprecedented crime against humanity. In his first novel, Boling reintroduces the event and paints his own picture of a people so strong, vibrant, and proud that they are willing to do whatever it takes to protect their values, their country, and their loved ones.
About the Author
A Chicago native, Dave Boling has been a journalist in the Pacific Northwest since 1980. He lives on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State.
Praise for Guernica…
"Boling threads his way through the stories of his many characters with humor, compassion and rich details of Basque tradition... Moving." – Washington Post Book World
“Boling breathes life into a flash point in history and creates an endearing and tragic drama that feels relevant today. Guernica is an ambitious debut by a writer whose daring imagination and seamless prose transports us to an extraordinary time and place.” –Jim Lynch, author of The Highest Tide
“Ambitious…A moving tale of courage and resilience that celebrates the history of an embattled culture while depicting in persuasive detail the communal and representative experiences of a single extended Basque family…The Ansoteguis’ indomitable will to live is memorably symbolized by the beloved Tree of Guernica—a commanding image shown in Pablo Picasso’s eponymous mural, whose conception and creation are also part of this absorbing story…[T]his is a very good novel indeed—and a crucial reminder that genocidal folly is never as far away from us as we might wish.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Boling’s portrait of the Guernica tragedy is vivid, as is his illustration of the Basque people’s oppression….[S]killful with characters and dialogue, possessing a great sense of timing and humor.”—Publishers Weekly
“A family saga set against the destruction of the Basque town of Guernica in 1937... Enhanced by Boling's knowledge of Basque culture,this is a convincing fictionalization of an infamous act of war.”--Booklist
