Echoes of War and Freedom: A Summer of Secrets
"Bombs sound and smell the same everywhere."
As Madrid crumbles under Franco's siege, Enrique, a philosophy professor at the renowned Institución Libre de Enseñanza, flees to France. Seeking refuge from the chaos of the Spanish Civil War, he soon finds himself caught in the humiliating Nazi invasion.
After the liberation of Paris and the fall of Nazism, Enrique feels attracted to the euphoria of freedom. Immersed in an intellectual atmosphere and a passionate love with a liberated woman, he is captivated by his new life. He turns his back on the past, convinced that returning to Spain means facing a nation still seething with rage, hatred, fear, and vengeance.
Years later, Enrique meets his only grandson, Luis, for the first time. Together, they experience an unforgettable summer filled with joy, intense emotions, and a heartbreaking tragedy.
Antonio Bustamante's novel defies genre boundaries. It’s not a thriller, yet it’s filled with suspense. It’s not a historical novel, though it’s set during one of the darkest periods in Spain and Europe. It’s not a love story, but it overflows with love and tenderness.
Experience a story that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.
1.-The end of war
Dozens of all-terrain vehicles and tanks appeared, atop which young people smiled and waved flags, the Spanish Republican flag among them. It was General Leclerc's armored unit, the 9th, with many Spaniards among its ranks. Many who had fought defending the Spanish Republic continued to risk their lives for freedom.
2.-New challenge
He unfolded a map and tried to locate Arfa, a small village of just over two hundred inhabitants near the border with France, on the slopes of the Pyrenees. This was the only destination offered to him if he wanted to return to Spain. Many years had passed, but the hatred persisted. The petition submitted by Eliseo and his friends had been favorably resolved. A schoolteacher in Arfa. How many children could there be in a village of two hundred inhabitants?
“They intended to humiliate me, but they gave me a prize: the pride of being a schoolteacher, like my father,” he thought.
3.-My dear grandson
“My dear grandson, your vacation month ended terribly. Not even a philosopher is prepared to face such brutal, senseless shocks,” Enrique reflected aloud. “I've spent my life fighting fear, but it always defeats me. Now what dominates me is loneliness and anxiety. I must break free from this mood myself to feel free again.”
4.-It cost me but I'm going to get it!
My Parisian bachelor pad, though modest, suited me well. Numerous rooms remained nearly bare—a bed, a gradually filling bookshelf, and a desk adorned with my typewriter. It was enough for now.
The time had come. After years of contemplation, I felt prepared to begin.
