A finales del siglo XIX, Barcelona vive una poca de esplendor. Acaba de celebrarse con gran xito la Exposicin Universal y una burguesa prspera y culta, que busca inspiracin en los salones parisinos, exhibe su elegancia en fiestas y veladas musicales. Pero al otro lado de la ciudad, donde las calles se estrechan y huelen a pobreza, el rencor y la injusticia estn fraguando una revolucin capaz de recurrir a la violencia ms descarnada. Prxedes Ripoll dirige con mano de hierro a los obreros de la fbrica que lleva su nombre, pero no consigue que sus hijos vayan por el camino que l pretende. El mayor, Germn, es un vividor que goza del favor de las mujeres y disfruta de los placeres que le ofrece la Barcelona ms canalla mientras que el menor, Antonio, est decidido a abrazar el sacerdocio para el resto de sus das. Y Candela, su joven y rebelde sobrina, que no est conforme con el papel que destina para la mujer la machista sociedad de la poca, tampoco est dispuesta a seguir sus designios. Y es que, desde hace un tiempo, Candela se ve a escondidas con Juan Pedro Bonafont, el hijo de la costurera; un muchacho de mirada franca y amante de los libros de quien se ha enamorado perdidamente. Un amor imposible para las rgidas costumbres de los Ripoll, quienes no dudarn en usar todos los medios a su alcance para frustrar los planes de la pareja. Con la habilidad de los grandes maestros de la novela histrica, Chufo Llorns teje un tapiz geogrfico y humano apasionante. Su pluma gil y perspicaz nos conduce desde los lujosos reservados del teatro del Liceo hasta los lbregos stanos donde se tramaban las conjeturas anarquistas, mientras el destino de los personajes se va trenzando en una Barcelona que se debate entre la atraccin por la modernidad y el miedo a unos cambios sociales violentos e inevitables. ENGLISH DESCRIPTION In modern day Barcelona, a love story between two young people of different social backgrounds is blooming. A wonderful historical novel about passion, ideals, and revenge.
At the end of the nineteenth century, Barcelona enjoys a time of splendor. The World Fair has just been celebrated to much success, and a prosperous and educated bourgeoisie, looking for inspiration in the Parisian salons, displays its elegance at parties and musical soirees. But on the other side of the city, where streets stretch and smell of poverty, injustice and spite are brewing a revolution capable of turning to the most gruesome violence. Prxedes Ripoll leads the workers at his factory with an iron fist, but cannot make his sons follow the path he would wish. The eldest, Germn, is a hustler who enjoys the favor of women and the pleasures the most rogue Barcelona has to offer, while the youngest, Antonio, is determined to embrace priesthood for the rest of his days. And Candela, his young and rebellious niece, dissatisfied with the role the misogynistic society of her time has chosen for women, is not willing to follow his commands either. Because, for some time now, Candela has been secretly meeting Juan Pedro Bonafont, the seamstress son, a young man with candid gaze and a passion for books, for whom she has fallen deeply in love. It is a hopeless love when it comes to the rigid ways of the Ripolls, who will not hesitate to use all available means to frustrate the couple's plans. With the expertise of a great master of historical novel, Chufo Llorrns creates a fascinating tapestry, both geographical and human. In modern day Barcelona, a love story between two young people of different social backgrounds is blooming. A wonderful historical novel about passion, ideals, and revenge.
At the end of the nineteenth century, Barcelona enjoys a time of splendor. The World Fair has just been celebrated to much success, and a prosperous and educated bourgeoisie, looking for inspiration in the Parisian salons, displays its elegance at parties and musical soirees. But on the other side of the city, where streets stretch and smell of poverty, injustice and spite are brewing a revolution capable of turning to the most gruesome violence. Prxedes Ripoll leads the workers at his factory with an iron fist, but cannot make his sons follow the path he would wish. The eldest, Germn, is a hustler who enjoys the favor of women and the pleasures the most rogue Barcelona has to offer, while the youngest, Antonio, is determined to embrace priesthood for the rest of his days. And Candela, his young and rebellious niece, dissatisfied with the role the misogynistic society of her time has chosen for women, is not willing to follow his commands either. Because, for some time now, Candela has been secretly meeting Juan Pedro Bonafont, the seamstress son, a young man with candid gaze and a passion for books, for whom she has fallen deeply in love. It is a hopeless love when it comes to the rigid ways of the Ripolls, who will not hesitate to use all available means to frustrate the couple's plans. With the expertise of a great master of historical novel, Chufo Llorrns creates a fascinating tapestry, both geographical and human.
A finales del siglo XIX, Barcelona vive una poca de esplendor. Acaba de celebrarse con gran xito la Exposicin Universal y una burguesa prspera y culta, que busca inspiracin en los salones parisinos, exhibe su elegancia en fiestas y veladas musicales. Pero al otro lado de la ciudad, donde las calles se estrechan y huelen a pobreza, el rencor y la injusticia estn fraguando una revolucin capaz de recurrir a la violencia ms descarnada. Prxedes Ripoll dirige con mano de hierro a los obreros de la fbrica que lleva su nombre, pero no consigue que sus hijos vayan por el camino que l pretende. El mayor, Germn, es un vividor que goza del favor de las mujeres y disfruta de los placeres que le ofrece la Barcelona ms canalla mientras que el menor, Antonio, est decidido a abrazar el sacerdocio para el resto de sus das. Y Candela, su joven y rebelde sobrina, que no est conforme con el papel que destina para la mujer la machista sociedad de la poca, tampoco est dispuesta a seguir sus designios. Y es que, desde hace un tiempo, Candela se ve a escondidas con Juan Pedro Bonafont, el hijo de la costurera; un muchacho de mirada franca y amante de los libros de quien se ha enamorado perdidamente. Un amor imposible para las rgidas costumbres de los Ripoll, quienes no dudarn en usar todos los medios a su alcance para frustrar los planes de la pareja. Con la habilidad de los grandes maestros de la novela histrica, Chufo Llorns teje un tapiz geogrfico y humano apasionante. Su pluma gil y perspicaz nos conduce desde los lujosos reservados del teatro del Liceo hasta los lbregos stanos donde se tramaban las conjeturas anarquistas, mientras el destino de los personajes se va trenzando en una Barcelona que se debate entre la atraccin por la modernidad y el miedo a unos cambios sociales violentos e inevitables. ENGLISH DESCRIPTION In modern day Barcelona, a love story between two young people of different social backgrounds is blooming. A wonderful historical novel about passion, ideals, and revenge.
At the end of the nineteenth century, Barcelona enjoys a time of splendor. The World Fair has just been celebrated to much success, and a prosperous and educated bourgeoisie, looking for inspiration in the Parisian salons, displays its elegance at parties and musical soirees. But on the other side of the city, where streets stretch and smell of poverty, injustice and spite are brewing a revolution capable of turning to the most gruesome violence. Prxedes Ripoll leads the workers at his factory with an iron fist, but cannot make his sons follow the path he would wish. The eldest, Germn, is a hustler who enjoys the favor of women and the pleasures the most rogue Barcelona has to offer, while the youngest, Antonio, is determined to embrace priesthood for the rest of his days. And Candela, his young and rebellious niece, dissatisfied with the role the misogynistic society of her time has chosen for women, is not willing to follow his commands either. Because, for some time now, Candela has been secretly meeting Juan Pedro Bonafont, the seamstress son, a young man with candid gaze and a passion for books, for whom she has fallen deeply in love. It is a hopeless love when it comes to the rigid ways of the Ripolls, who will not hesitate to use all available means to frustrate the couple's plans. With the expertise of a great master of historical novel, Chufo Llorrns creates a fascinating tapestry, both geographical and human. In modern day Barcelona, a love story between two young people of different social backgrounds is blooming. A wonderful historical novel about passion, ideals, and revenge.
At the end of the nineteenth century, Barcelona enjoys a time of splendor. The World Fair has just been celebrated to much success, and a prosperous and educated bourgeoisie, looking for inspiration in the Parisian salons, displays its elegance at parties and musical soirees. But on the other side of the city, where streets stretch and smell of poverty, injustice and spite are brewing a revolution capable of turning to the most gruesome violence. Prxedes Ripoll leads the workers at his factory with an iron fist, but cannot make his sons follow the path he would wish. The eldest, Germn, is a hustler who enjoys the favor of women and the pleasures the most rogue Barcelona has to offer, while the youngest, Antonio, is determined to embrace priesthood for the rest of his days. And Candela, his young and rebellious niece, dissatisfied with the role the misogynistic society of her time has chosen for women, is not willing to follow his commands either. Because, for some time now, Candela has been secretly meeting Juan Pedro Bonafont, the seamstress son, a young man with candid gaze and a passion for books, for whom she has fallen deeply in love. It is a hopeless love when it comes to the rigid ways of the Ripolls, who will not hesitate to use all available means to frustrate the couple's plans. With the expertise of a great master of historical novel, Chufo Llorrns creates a fascinating tapestry, both geographical and human.
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