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The Sadness Of The Samurai (2011)

by Víctor del Árbol(Favorite Author)

3.73 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

080509475X (ISBN13: 9780805094756)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

Henry Holt and Co.

review 1: The title refers to a strong interest of a small child, one of the many victims of the many political intrigues going on during this period and the permanent hatreds and unforgiving deadliness of some of the actions that happened. There was a coup at this time on which some of the incidents in this book are based. It's a book of extremes, violence, strong emotions...loves, hates, perversity, daring actions, strong repercussions. It was a thriller although it was more a drama than a mystery. But there were several mysteries in the setting that entered in and out of the narrative. The totally closed mind, unchannelled ambition, and convinced of one's own rectitude was successfully portrayed in a relatable way also in a few of the characters. If more books come by this ... moreauthor, I will read them.
review 2: The Sadness of the Samurai is a detective story set in Spain. The incident at its heart takes place in 1942. Franco and his ultra right wing thugs have won the civil war, and Spain has joined the Axis powers fighting in WWII. Most of the populace is indifferent, no matter what atrocities are inflicted by the government or the criminal classes, and it is hard to tell one type of sadist from another. Political and personal grudges result in extremely unpleasant violence, often gratuitous. In this ugly landscape, it is difficult to live a productive life. And the sins of the fathers live on to warp the lives, health and personalities of the sons- and daughters who come after. The story which began in civil war ends in a coup attempt in 1981, perpetrated by the remnants of the fascist old guard and some generals, destroying the lives of generations of Spaniards. I thought the plot was stuffed with too many details, the atmosphere was filled with crippling despair, and in the end, I'm glad I don't live in Spain. less

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