A Bookseller in Madrid

A Novel

Mario Escobar

$52.99

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

Harper Muse
28 October 2025

Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945); Second World War fiction; Historical fiction; Fiction in translation

How can the words of the past help heal the horror of the present

For as long as she can remember, Barbara Spiel has always found solace in books. Born in Germany and having come of age in a tumultuous era, she flees her home country as the Nazis rise to power in the early 1930s. Her destination Madrid. There she's determined to realize her long-held dream of opening a bookshop and creating a safe haven for young idealists and independent thinkers to come together to transform the world.

Yet Spain isn't immune from its own troubles. The winds of change are blowing through both city and countryside, and it's impossible to predict what will happen. When the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War puts Barbara and everyone around her in peril--including the Spanish Socialist parliamentarian she's fallen deeply in love with--the terror and hatred seem all too familiar. It's like Germany all over again, only with its own cast of extremist characters.

Hounded simultaneously by Stalinist checas, Francoist Facists, and the German Gestapo, Barbara fights to keep her bookstore the safe haven that she's always imagined it would be. But with war brewing both inside Spain and outside its borders throughout the entirety of Europe--and beyond--Barbara isn't sure who exactly she can trust, or if people really are who they claim to be.

A story told with tremendous heart and astonishing historical accuracy, A Bookseller in Madrid is ultimately a story about dreams--dreaming with courage when nothing seems to make sense, and dreaming with hope when words printed on a page are all you can hold on to.

By: Mario Escobar
Imprint: Harper Muse
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 221mm, Width: 148mm, Spine: 24mm
Weight: 362g
ISBN: 9781400347476
ISBN 10: 1400347475
Pages: 304
Publication Date: 28 October 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Mario Escobar has a master's degree in modern history and has written numerous books and articles that delve into the depths of church history, the struggle of sectarian groups, and the discovery and colonization of the Americas. Escobar, who makes his home in Madrid, Spain, is passionate about history and its mysteries.

Reviews for A Bookseller in Madrid: A Novel

' . . . the story is dramatic and engaging, and readers willing to suspend their disbelief will appreciate the ending. Escobar's latest (after THE FORGOTTEN NAMES, 2024) is a worthy read as present-day occurrences echo events of the past.' * Booklist * 'A powerful and achingly real look into the Spanish Civil War and 1930s Europe that both illuminates and captivates. I was so invested in Barbara and her family's plight that I could not stop turning the pages. Mario Escobar has penned an unforgettable novel of love and fortitude--and books!' * Sara Ackerman, USA TODAY bestselling author of THE CODEBREAKER'S SECRET * 'Deftly captured and eloquently told, Mario Escobar's A BOOKSELLER IN MADRID is an important, powerful tale bringing tragic circumstances and resilient characters together in an often-overlooked time in Spanish history. This story is an impressive testament to literature's ability to provide comfort, strength, and hope even in the darkest of times.' * Gabriella Saab, author of THE LAST CHECKMATE *