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مدينة الأعاجيب
تعد "مدينة الاعاجيب" اكثر رواياته اتساعا وطموحا، واحد انجح الاعمال الروائية في السنوات الاخيرة في اسبانيا. فقد توالت طبعاتها بالاسبانية منذ ظهورها في ايار 1986، حتى زادت على الثلاثين طبعة، وسرعان ما تجاوزت شهرتها حدود بلاد المؤلف، فترجمت الى احدى وعشرين لغة اجنبية، ونالت اعجاب القراء والنقاد، وحازت جوائز عديدة، مثل جائزة افضل رواية اجنبية في ايطاليا، وجائزة افضل كتاب لعام 1988 التي تقدمها مجلة "لير" الفرنسية.
463 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
About the author
Eduardo Mendoza
90 books951 followersEduardo Mendoza Garriga studied law in the first half of the 1960s and lived in New York between 1973 and 1982, working as interpreter for the United Nations.
He maintained an intense relationship with novelists Juan Benet and Juan García Hortelano, poet Pere Gimferrer and writer (and neighbour) Félix de Azúa.
In 1975 he published his very successful first novel, La verdad sobre el caso Savolta (The Truth about the Savolta Case), where he shows his ability to use different resources and styles. The novel is considered a precursor to the social change in the Spanish post-Franco society and the first novel of the transition to democracy. He describes the union fights from the beginning of the 20th century, showing the social, cultural and economic reality of the Barcelona at the time. A year later he was awarded the Critic Prize.
His most acclaimed novel is probably La ciudad de los prodigios (The City of Marvels, 1986), about the social and urban evolution of Barcelona between the Universal Expositions of 1888 and 1929. It was adapted to the screen by Mario Camus in 1999.
In 1996, he published his third major Barcelona novel, this time set in the 1940s, Una comedia ligera (A Light Comedy).
Also within Mendoza's work stands the saga of Ceferino, a peculiar character, a detective locked up in a mental hospital. The first of these novels, El misterio de la cripta embrujada (The Mystery of the Bewitched Crypt, 1979) is a parody with hilarious moments mixing detective stories with gothic narrative.
In the second novel of the saga, El laberinto de las aceitunas (The Labyrinth of the Olives, 1982) he confirms his talent as parodist; the novel is one of his most successful works. The third (and last) novel of the saga, La aventura del tocador de señoras (The Adventure of the Powder Room) was published in 2002.
The newspaper El País published two of his novels by instalments, Sin noticias de Gurb ( No Word from Gurb, 1990) and El último trayecto de Horacio Dos (The Last Journey of Horatio Dos, 2001).
In 1990, his work in Catalan Restauració made its debut. He later translated it into Spanish himself.
He maintained an intense relationship with novelists Juan Benet and Juan García Hortelano, poet Pere Gimferrer and writer (and neighbour) Félix de Azúa.
In 1975 he published his very successful first novel, La verdad sobre el caso Savolta (The Truth about the Savolta Case), where he shows his ability to use different resources and styles. The novel is considered a precursor to the social change in the Spanish post-Franco society and the first novel of the transition to democracy. He describes the union fights from the beginning of the 20th century, showing the social, cultural and economic reality of the Barcelona at the time. A year later he was awarded the Critic Prize.
His most acclaimed novel is probably La ciudad de los prodigios (The City of Marvels, 1986), about the social and urban evolution of Barcelona between the Universal Expositions of 1888 and 1929. It was adapted to the screen by Mario Camus in 1999.
In 1996, he published his third major Barcelona novel, this time set in the 1940s, Una comedia ligera (A Light Comedy).
Also within Mendoza's work stands the saga of Ceferino, a peculiar character, a detective locked up in a mental hospital. The first of these novels, El misterio de la cripta embrujada (The Mystery of the Bewitched Crypt, 1979) is a parody with hilarious moments mixing detective stories with gothic narrative.
In the second novel of the saga, El laberinto de las aceitunas (The Labyrinth of the Olives, 1982) he confirms his talent as parodist; the novel is one of his most successful works. The third (and last) novel of the saga, La aventura del tocador de señoras (The Adventure of the Powder Room) was published in 2002.
The newspaper El País published two of his novels by instalments, Sin noticias de Gurb ( No Word from Gurb, 1990) and El último trayecto de Horacio Dos (The Last Journey of Horatio Dos, 2001).
In 1990, his work in Catalan Restauració made its debut. He later translated it into Spanish himself.
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August 6, 2019
City of Marvels by Eduardo Mendoza
A historical novel that is a love story to the author’s hometown of Barcelona. The time frame is sandwiched between Barcelona’s two World’s Fairs – 1888 and 1929. The main character is a poor boy from a rural area who is trying to escape poverty by coming to the city as a young teenager. He stays at a boarding house with a lot of characters (a fortune teller, a cross-dressing manager, a retired priest, a dentist/abortionist) and he gets a job distributing anarchist flyers. (Boarding house stories are always fun because of the diverse weird characters you get into --- I think of two other boarding house books I've read: The Boarding-House by William Trevor and Hotel Brasil: The Mystery of the Severed Heads by Frei Betto.)
He soon realizes there is no money in flyers so he starts selling hair tonic on the side. His entrepreneurial skills attract the attention of the ‘mob’ so to speak, a group of politically-connected corrupt men making money off of the city’s expenditures for the 1888 Fair and stealing expensive equipment from the exhibits.
He becomes an amoral man. Even as a young boy he forces a hotel maid to have sex with him so he will help her father (the cross-dresser) get out of prison. The main character becomes not only corrupt but even hires a hit man to take people out. It’s like Chicago in the 1930’s. There are gang wars among rival groups and eventually the still-young man rises to the top. He comes to believe that “Society rests on these four pillars…ignorance, negligence, injustice, and folly.” We follow his life and loves as time goes on.
The main character moves on from local corruption and at various times gets involved in land speculation, diamond and weapons smuggling. He becomes an entrepreneur in Barcelona’s start-up movie industry, picking out women and making them stars, although this is one endeavor on which he loses money. Still, he becomes the richest man in all of Spain but never really helps his poverty-stricken parents back on the farm.
While the main character is fictional, real people and true events are mixed in with the story, such as Antoni Gaudi, architect of the Sagrada Familia and Rasputin, and factual incidents about the scope and development of the world’s fairs. To an extent, the book is a fairly factual history of the urban development of Barcelona.
It’s a good story and it kept my attention but there are passages that should have been edited out. For example, there are long lists of the names of engineers who worked on the fair (whether real or fictional, what is the point of that in a novel?). There are overly-statistical passages on the capacity of water displays and electricity needs. Still, overall, a good read.
The author (1943-) has written a dozen-or-so novels of which this one is probably his best, according to Wiki and Goodreads.
Top two photos from atlasobscura.com
Photo of the author from Wikipedia
A historical novel that is a love story to the author’s hometown of Barcelona. The time frame is sandwiched between Barcelona’s two World’s Fairs – 1888 and 1929. The main character is a poor boy from a rural area who is trying to escape poverty by coming to the city as a young teenager. He stays at a boarding house with a lot of characters (a fortune teller, a cross-dressing manager, a retired priest, a dentist/abortionist) and he gets a job distributing anarchist flyers. (Boarding house stories are always fun because of the diverse weird characters you get into --- I think of two other boarding house books I've read: The Boarding-House by William Trevor and Hotel Brasil: The Mystery of the Severed Heads by Frei Betto.)
He soon realizes there is no money in flyers so he starts selling hair tonic on the side. His entrepreneurial skills attract the attention of the ‘mob’ so to speak, a group of politically-connected corrupt men making money off of the city’s expenditures for the 1888 Fair and stealing expensive equipment from the exhibits.
He becomes an amoral man. Even as a young boy he forces a hotel maid to have sex with him so he will help her father (the cross-dresser) get out of prison. The main character becomes not only corrupt but even hires a hit man to take people out. It’s like Chicago in the 1930’s. There are gang wars among rival groups and eventually the still-young man rises to the top. He comes to believe that “Society rests on these four pillars…ignorance, negligence, injustice, and folly.” We follow his life and loves as time goes on.
The main character moves on from local corruption and at various times gets involved in land speculation, diamond and weapons smuggling. He becomes an entrepreneur in Barcelona’s start-up movie industry, picking out women and making them stars, although this is one endeavor on which he loses money. Still, he becomes the richest man in all of Spain but never really helps his poverty-stricken parents back on the farm.
While the main character is fictional, real people and true events are mixed in with the story, such as Antoni Gaudi, architect of the Sagrada Familia and Rasputin, and factual incidents about the scope and development of the world’s fairs. To an extent, the book is a fairly factual history of the urban development of Barcelona.
It’s a good story and it kept my attention but there are passages that should have been edited out. For example, there are long lists of the names of engineers who worked on the fair (whether real or fictional, what is the point of that in a novel?). There are overly-statistical passages on the capacity of water displays and electricity needs. Still, overall, a good read.
The author (1943-) has written a dozen-or-so novels of which this one is probably his best, according to Wiki and Goodreads.
Top two photos from atlasobscura.com
Photo of the author from Wikipedia
May 18, 2019
https://elyunquedehefesto.blogspot.co...
Sin duda, ‘La Ciudad de los Prodigios’ rezuma calidad por doquier. Una novela irónica y sarcástica escrita durante años, sin prisa y con alguna pausa (otras obras vieron la luz durante su larga gestación), y el resultado es para muchos la mejor obra del autor.
En ella asistimos a un recorrido por la historia oral de Barcelona, desde finales del Siglo XIX cuando se preparaba la primera exposición universal en la ciudad, hasta la fallida exposición de 1929. Y digo oral porque los datos concretos, precisos y concisos a veces se apartan para dejar sitio a las leyendas y rumores de la época.
El autor crea un personaje, Onofre Bouvilla, que nos resulta entrañable al comienzo de la historia buscándose la vida en una ciudad en ebullición, intentando sobrevivir primero, prosperar después. Como un Lazarillo moderno parte de la nada y con la picaresca y la falta de escrúpulos como armas pasa por las más dispares ocupaciones y lugares, siempre persiguiendo el anhelado ascenso económico y reconocimiento social (que no siempre van de la mano). Sus andanzas le llevarán desde la prédica del Anarquismo sin creer en él, a fundar una productora cinematográfica entre otras cosas y recorrerá desde los arrabales y barrios más marginales hasta el teatro del Liceo. Sin embargo, la importancia del personaje principal y su evolución personal la va ganando con el avance del libro. Al principio es prácticamente un secundario ya que la urbe y sus anécdotas reclaman toda la atención.
Mendoza juega constantemente con el lector. Intercala hechos reales con anécdotas y personajes históricos con otros de su invención. No se limita a introducir en la trama a las personalidades locales de la época; se las arregla para que el General Primo de Rivera, la Emperatriz Sissi y Cánovas del Castillo entre otros, tengan relación con la vida de Onofre pero además, de manera indirecta, nos transmite soslayadamente historias protagonizadas por Mata Hari, Gaudí o Picasso. De esta forma el autor completa una obra coral con Bouvilla como hilo conductor, con Barcelona como un escenario omnipresente y con pequeños relatos que al modo de ‘las mil y una noches’ se van sumando al retrato de toda una época.
He de decir que si lo que buscáis es un relato ágil y picaresco, puede que tanta subtrama y apunte se os haga un poco pesado, pero si por el contrario buscáis una lectura que vaya más allá de un desarrollo centrado en un solo personaje u os apasiona Barcelona, disfrutaréis a lo grande con el auge y decadencia de la ciudad como no os lo habían contado antes.
En cuanto a la escritura de Mendoza, se muestra más contenido que en la mayoría de sus obras. No abandona su sentido del humor irónico, pero se aleja de las escenas disparatadas y sin duda os asombrará con el repertorio de Santos y Santas cuyas vidas parece saberse de memoria.
Sin duda, ‘La Ciudad de los Prodigios’ rezuma calidad por doquier. Una novela irónica y sarcástica escrita durante años, sin prisa y con alguna pausa (otras obras vieron la luz durante su larga gestación), y el resultado es para muchos la mejor obra del autor.
En ella asistimos a un recorrido por la historia oral de Barcelona, desde finales del Siglo XIX cuando se preparaba la primera exposición universal en la ciudad, hasta la fallida exposición de 1929. Y digo oral porque los datos concretos, precisos y concisos a veces se apartan para dejar sitio a las leyendas y rumores de la época.
El autor crea un personaje, Onofre Bouvilla, que nos resulta entrañable al comienzo de la historia buscándose la vida en una ciudad en ebullición, intentando sobrevivir primero, prosperar después. Como un Lazarillo moderno parte de la nada y con la picaresca y la falta de escrúpulos como armas pasa por las más dispares ocupaciones y lugares, siempre persiguiendo el anhelado ascenso económico y reconocimiento social (que no siempre van de la mano). Sus andanzas le llevarán desde la prédica del Anarquismo sin creer en él, a fundar una productora cinematográfica entre otras cosas y recorrerá desde los arrabales y barrios más marginales hasta el teatro del Liceo. Sin embargo, la importancia del personaje principal y su evolución personal la va ganando con el avance del libro. Al principio es prácticamente un secundario ya que la urbe y sus anécdotas reclaman toda la atención.
Mendoza juega constantemente con el lector. Intercala hechos reales con anécdotas y personajes históricos con otros de su invención. No se limita a introducir en la trama a las personalidades locales de la época; se las arregla para que el General Primo de Rivera, la Emperatriz Sissi y Cánovas del Castillo entre otros, tengan relación con la vida de Onofre pero además, de manera indirecta, nos transmite soslayadamente historias protagonizadas por Mata Hari, Gaudí o Picasso. De esta forma el autor completa una obra coral con Bouvilla como hilo conductor, con Barcelona como un escenario omnipresente y con pequeños relatos que al modo de ‘las mil y una noches’ se van sumando al retrato de toda una época.
He de decir que si lo que buscáis es un relato ágil y picaresco, puede que tanta subtrama y apunte se os haga un poco pesado, pero si por el contrario buscáis una lectura que vaya más allá de un desarrollo centrado en un solo personaje u os apasiona Barcelona, disfrutaréis a lo grande con el auge y decadencia de la ciudad como no os lo habían contado antes.
En cuanto a la escritura de Mendoza, se muestra más contenido que en la mayoría de sus obras. No abandona su sentido del humor irónico, pero se aleja de las escenas disparatadas y sin duda os asombrará con el repertorio de Santos y Santas cuyas vidas parece saberse de memoria.
April 16, 2012
I have a feeling that Mendoza is better known in Europe than in North America. I have already read four of his books, none of which has been published here I don’t think. The three were on a lighter side with an insane barber turned detective as the main protagonist- sort of Being There by Kosinski but on a very light side.
Even though all them are set in Barcelona, this one, The City of Marvels, is about Barcelona itself. Yes, it does have a plot that kept me reading even though my interest petered out by the end, but the main focus is on historical Barcelona. The times that are of special interest to the author are of and between the two International Expositions which took place there in 1888 and 1929 respectively. The main character, Onofre, is a peasant who comes to the big city with a plan to get rich and through his intelligence and cunning, crime and lack of scruples becomes one of the richest men in Barcelona and Spain. Were I not acquainted with Mendoza, I would probably not know what to make of this main character. He is definitely not a likeable person and for us to like him is not the point. The point Mendoza is making is that this was the way people got rich in Barcelona during that time and this was the way Barcelona acquired its bourgeoisie. That may not be entirely true either, since the whole thing is a satire and I feel that we are to read it as such. All in all it’s the story of the city Mendoza is dying to tell here; Onofre is only an excuse.
3.5/5
Even though all them are set in Barcelona, this one, The City of Marvels, is about Barcelona itself. Yes, it does have a plot that kept me reading even though my interest petered out by the end, but the main focus is on historical Barcelona. The times that are of special interest to the author are of and between the two International Expositions which took place there in 1888 and 1929 respectively. The main character, Onofre, is a peasant who comes to the big city with a plan to get rich and through his intelligence and cunning, crime and lack of scruples becomes one of the richest men in Barcelona and Spain. Were I not acquainted with Mendoza, I would probably not know what to make of this main character. He is definitely not a likeable person and for us to like him is not the point. The point Mendoza is making is that this was the way people got rich in Barcelona during that time and this was the way Barcelona acquired its bourgeoisie. That may not be entirely true either, since the whole thing is a satire and I feel that we are to read it as such. All in all it’s the story of the city Mendoza is dying to tell here; Onofre is only an excuse.
3.5/5
July 24, 2018
Com esta obra pode viajar pelas ruas de Barcelona e Catalunha. Consegui perceber um pouco do panorama da década de 30 em Espanha. Os espanhóis vivam o início de um pequena decadência. Mas não ignoravam a sua História e Cultura. Aliás o livro realça a faceta cultura e histórica da cidade de Barcelona. Que tal como em Lisboa, Porto e outras cidades portuguesas foi povoada pelos fenícios, romanos e godos.
Sentia que deambulava por essa magnífica cidade espanhola. Que vivia dentro daquela história. E sofria pelo anarquista Ónorio, que apesar de todo não mereceu o destino que teve.
É um clássico de leitura obrigatória para o povo espanhol mas também para o português para entender a rivalidade entre catalães e castelhanos.
Sentia que deambulava por essa magnífica cidade espanhola. Que vivia dentro daquela história. E sofria pelo anarquista Ónorio, que apesar de todo não mereceu o destino que teve.
É um clássico de leitura obrigatória para o povo espanhol mas também para o português para entender a rivalidade entre catalães e castelhanos.
September 25, 2011
Uno de los escritores españoles más infravalorados. Picaresca, ambientada en España del los siglos 19 y 20 con un toque satírico. Captura perfectamente la idea que el poder corrompe.
May 9, 2013
Una metáfora entre cómica y cruda del ascenso de Barcelona desde fines del siglo XIX como urbe que busca maravillar y sorprender, ya sea con hechos reales o inventados, frente a la dialéctica del pesado y pausado poder central de Madrid. El protagonista, Onofre Bouvila, va surcando gracias a su inteligencia y algunos golpes de suerte la geografía incierta de ese ascenso, en el que no faltan el burdel piojoso o la mansión excesiva, el anticlericalismo extremo ni el beaterío familiero, el matonaje a sueldo o anarquista ni la mafia selectiva. En fin, que así ha sido, y es, España.
Como habitante reciente de BCN, esta y otras novelas de Mendoza me están abriendo los ojos y el humor a la esperpéntica naturaleza del dinero como factor de poder burgués de la gran capital de un catalanismo que una y otra vez se las arregla para estar del lado perdedor de la historia. ¡Visca Catalunya!
Se hizo una película basada en esta novela: muy pronto la veré.
Como habitante reciente de BCN, esta y otras novelas de Mendoza me están abriendo los ojos y el humor a la esperpéntica naturaleza del dinero como factor de poder burgués de la gran capital de un catalanismo que una y otra vez se las arregla para estar del lado perdedor de la historia. ¡Visca Catalunya!
Se hizo una película basada en esta novela: muy pronto la veré.
March 8, 2018
Me habían dicho que este no era de los mejores libros de Eduardo Mendoza. Puede ser, porque aunque en ningún momento pierde el sentido del humor y hay muchos guiños irónicos, es mucho más cruel que el resto de sus títulos (al menos, de los que yo haya leído) y algunas partes se hacen un poco pesadas. Sin embargo, a pesar de ser muy exhaustivo en sus descripciones, quizás demasiado, y abusivo, a mi parecer, con los saltos en el tiempo en la narrativa, no puedo ponerle menos de 5 estrellas. Quizás porque es mi autor favorito de siempre, o quizás porque leer esta novela, obviando licencias e inventivas, es como leer un libro de historia de la que, para mí, es la mejor ciudad del mundo, Barcelona 😊
February 27, 2012
قرأتها بترجمة علي باشا
الترجمة لم أتوقعها بهذه البساطة وبهذا الزخم
الأسلوب مشوق
حتى البداية والمدخل التاريخي أعجبني جدا
وعجبني الإنتقال في السرد والفلاش باك وذكريات طفولته
وغرقت في أزقة المدينة وفي شخصية البطل أونوفر أحاول أن أحلل هذه التركيبة العجيبة
وحاولت أن أكرهه فمثل هذه الشخصية تثير الكراهية
لكني لم أستطع أن أفعل لاأدري لم!!
كانت لي زيارة مع العائلة منذ فترة طويلة لهذه المدينة الجميلة
واالشارع الشهير الذي يلتقي فيه السياح وفناني الشوارع أتذكره جيدا
لقد كان ملتقى المعتوهين وغريبي الأطوار
هذه الرواية شرعت أبواب الذاكرة على مصراعيها
الشروحات التاريخية التي تخللت الرواية يبدو لي أنها ستزعج القارىء الغير مهتم
قارىء رواية برشلونة يجب أن يكون مهتما بيتاريخ المنطقة لكي يستطيع صبرا
الترجمة لم أتوقعها بهذه البساطة وبهذا الزخم
الأسلوب مشوق
حتى البداية والمدخل التاريخي أعجبني جدا
وعجبني الإنتقال في السرد والفلاش باك وذكريات طفولته
وغرقت في أزقة المدينة وفي شخصية البطل أونوفر أحاول أن أحلل هذه التركيبة العجيبة
وحاولت أن أكرهه فمثل هذه الشخصية تثير الكراهية
لكني لم أستطع أن أفعل لاأدري لم!!
كانت لي زيارة مع العائلة منذ فترة طويلة لهذه المدينة الجميلة
واالشارع الشهير الذي يلتقي فيه السياح وفناني الشوارع أتذكره جيدا
لقد كان ملتقى المعتوهين وغريبي الأطوار
هذه الرواية شرعت أبواب الذاكرة على مصراعيها
الشروحات التاريخية التي تخللت الرواية يبدو لي أنها ستزعج القارىء الغير مهتم
قارىء رواية برشلونة يجب أن يكون مهتما بيتاريخ المنطقة لكي يستطيع صبرا
September 29, 2020
La valoración - y mi admiración - es para el artista por ser capaz de adaptar, a este género y formato, una historia tan compleja y densa como la de Eduardo Mendoza.
February 4, 2016
It has been said before: the book is more about the city of Barcelona than about the person Onofre Bouvila. That isn't the biggest issue however. On lots of occasions I missed depth, spots where the plot really could have been more intense. Missed chances, even. I couldn't help associating parts of the story with Zafons Shadow of the Wind series, which took all of these possibilities and added more depth and more magic to it.
October 7, 2022
Qué novela tan magnífica. La ciudad de los prodigios puede ser a Barcelona lo que Cien años de soledad a Colombia y a toda Latinoamérica.
Eduardo Mendoza es un escritor trascendental.
Eduardo Mendoza es un escritor trascendental.
May 23, 2021
3,5/5. Franco öncesi İspanya'nın yakın tarihini, daha çok Barcelona'nın 19.yüzyıl sonu ve 20.yüzyıl başındaki belirleyici tarihsel ve toplumsal olaylarını, gelişmekte olan bilimin günlük hayata etkilerini Onofre'nin hikayesi üzerinden anlatıyor Mendoza. Onofre yoksul, anarşistlerin yanında işe başlayan bir çocukluk döneminden sonra girdiği yasadışı işler ve şaibeli ilişkilerin etkisiyle şehrin en nüfuzlu kişisine dönüşüyor. Arka plandaki tarihsel olaylar kimi zaman karakterin hikayesini gölgeliyor. Zaman atlamaları bazen çok hızlı gerçekleşiyor. Barcelona şehrinin kökenlerini ve nasıl kurulduğunu, uygarlığın asıl, görünmeyen özünü detaylarıyla anlatıyor yazar fakat bazen gereksiz detaylara da giriyor. Onofre'nin yakın çevresiyle, kadınlarla ve çocuklarıyla ilişkilerini çok derinlemesine anlatmıyor. Bir kapitalistin ikilemlerini şehrin gelişimiyle paralel hikayesi olarak okuyunca daha etkili.
January 7, 2022
Love BARCELONA? You'll love this....
City of Wonders is a quite excellent read. It covers the period 1888 to 1929, and is very firmly sets in Barcelona at the time it was changing from a provincial town into a world city. Two world fairs – the first at the beginning of the period and the second at the end – absolutely set the scene for the rapid expansion.
Onofre Bouvila, the ‘hero’ of this fictional story arrives in the town in 1888 and departs in 1929. He arrives as a poor boy from the countryside, and exits as one of the richest men in the world. His wealth is not always earned honestly (very far from it….) and Barcelona society has a love / hate relationship with him. He profits greatly from the troubles of the times – both internally in Spain and also on a wider European stage. He mixes with pimps and prostitutes, thieves and robbers – and also with some of the pillars of political and industrial influence.
Although City of Wonders is a work of Mendoza’s imagination, I am sure the events described could have happened. The historical references and the description of the city ring true. I learnt a great deal about both the transformation of Barcelona and the broader European politics of the time. And Onofre is exactly the type who would have ruthlessly benefited from the opportunities rising out of the chaos.
Mendoza’s writing is both detailed and vivid in its descriptions. It paints a picture of a city passing through seismic change. And the book is quite excellently translated by Nick Caistor.
City of Wonders is a great read for anyone who is looking for a well told story set against an authentic and violent historical background.
City of Wonders is a quite excellent read. It covers the period 1888 to 1929, and is very firmly sets in Barcelona at the time it was changing from a provincial town into a world city. Two world fairs – the first at the beginning of the period and the second at the end – absolutely set the scene for the rapid expansion.
Onofre Bouvila, the ‘hero’ of this fictional story arrives in the town in 1888 and departs in 1929. He arrives as a poor boy from the countryside, and exits as one of the richest men in the world. His wealth is not always earned honestly (very far from it….) and Barcelona society has a love / hate relationship with him. He profits greatly from the troubles of the times – both internally in Spain and also on a wider European stage. He mixes with pimps and prostitutes, thieves and robbers – and also with some of the pillars of political and industrial influence.
Although City of Wonders is a work of Mendoza’s imagination, I am sure the events described could have happened. The historical references and the description of the city ring true. I learnt a great deal about both the transformation of Barcelona and the broader European politics of the time. And Onofre is exactly the type who would have ruthlessly benefited from the opportunities rising out of the chaos.
Mendoza’s writing is both detailed and vivid in its descriptions. It paints a picture of a city passing through seismic change. And the book is quite excellently translated by Nick Caistor.
City of Wonders is a great read for anyone who is looking for a well told story set against an authentic and violent historical background.
October 7, 2021
Novela historica que mezcla los acontecimientos históricos y los personajes historicos con un cuento ficticio que rodea de la vida y las aventuras de Onofre Bouvila entre las dos Exposiciones Universales de Barcelona (1888 y 1929).
Hay un paralelo entre la historia de Onofre y la de Barcelona. Mientras crece Barcelona y desarrolla la industria, la tecnología y el capitalismo Onofre se convierte de un pobre jóven del campo a un magnate/gangster que controla la vida política y económica y el crimen de Barcelona. Ademas, Onofre se involucra en la industrialización y el desarrollo de la tecnología. Através de su poder y su dinero participa en la introducción del cine y la aviación. Es una historia de Barcelona que es a la vez una parodia de las historias de Barcelona y una satira de las injusticias y desigualdades que han dominado la sociedad.
Hay un paralelo entre la historia de Onofre y la de Barcelona. Mientras crece Barcelona y desarrolla la industria, la tecnología y el capitalismo Onofre se convierte de un pobre jóven del campo a un magnate/gangster que controla la vida política y económica y el crimen de Barcelona. Ademas, Onofre se involucra en la industrialización y el desarrollo de la tecnología. Através de su poder y su dinero participa en la introducción del cine y la aviación. Es una historia de Barcelona que es a la vez una parodia de las historias de Barcelona y una satira de las injusticias y desigualdades que han dominado la sociedad.
July 7, 2013
مدينة الأعاجيب ماهو إلا عملٌ إبداعي قلما قرأت مثله.. حكايةٌ رائعة عن مدينة برشلونة الأسبانية منذ بدء شرارة التطور والمعرض الدولي حتى عصر النهضة والآلات، وقد جاءت كل تلك التطورات والأحداث بشكل متقن مع مجيء بطل العمل أونوفري إلى المدينة وهو في سن صغيرة، وأدى إختفاءه في نهاية العمل لانحادر المدينة كما ذُكِرَ في آخر صفحات الرواية كدلالة على ارتباط المدينة ببطل العمل.
مواضيع جانبية زاخرة، شخصيات كثيرة ومؤثرة في العمل. أحداث غير متوقعة ومتسارعة مع نهاية الفصول وهذا الأمر يحسب للمؤلف إذ لم يدع مجالاً للقاريء لتوقع الحدث المسبق.
مدينة الأعاجيب واحدة من أجمل الأعمال التي قرأتها في الفترة الأخيرة، وكنت أتمنى أن لا ينتهي رغم زخمه بالأحداث والتفاصيل الدقيقة.
يبقى أن أشيد لترجمة صالح علماني التي أعطت لنا -نحن القراء- ما نريده في الأعمال المترجمة وأكثر .
مواضيع جانبية زاخرة، شخصيات كثيرة ومؤثرة في العمل. أحداث غير متوقعة ومتسارعة مع نهاية الفصول وهذا الأمر يحسب للمؤلف إذ لم يدع مجالاً للقاريء لتوقع الحدث المسبق.
مدينة الأعاجيب واحدة من أجمل الأعمال التي قرأتها في الفترة الأخيرة، وكنت أتمنى أن لا ينتهي رغم زخمه بالأحداث والتفاصيل الدقيقة.
يبقى أن أشيد لترجمة صالح علماني التي أعطت لنا -نحن القراء- ما نريده في الأعمال المترجمة وأكثر .
February 8, 2020
La lectura de La ciudad de los prodigios me ha generado sentimientos encontrados.
Creo que es un libro que está muy bien escrito. Hay toques de humor que me han recordado a Sin noticias de Gurb. En general la lectura es bastante amena.
La dualidad Barcelona-Onofre Bouvilla que forma la trama no me termina de convencer. Creo que presenta altibajos. Hay partes del libro que me he leído de un tirón y otras que me han interesado bastante menos. En mi opinión, el autor intenta decir muchas cosas pero a la vez sólo se detiene en detallar momentos puntuales de la vida de la ciudad y la persona.
Creo que es un libro que está muy bien escrito. Hay toques de humor que me han recordado a Sin noticias de Gurb. En general la lectura es bastante amena.
La dualidad Barcelona-Onofre Bouvilla que forma la trama no me termina de convencer. Creo que presenta altibajos. Hay partes del libro que me he leído de un tirón y otras que me han interesado bastante menos. En mi opinión, el autor intenta decir muchas cosas pero a la vez sólo se detiene en detallar momentos puntuales de la vida de la ciudad y la persona.
June 18, 2020
Buf.
Desde el punto de vista de la edición, tengo que decir que es magnífica visualmente: tapa dura, con unas viñetas impresionantes que transmiten muchísimo. Sin embargo, en lo que a la historia en sí se refiere, no me ha terminado de gustar, no sé si es porque se ha perdido mucho al adaptarla a novela gráfica o porque, de por sí, la novela original no me habría gustado: un protagonista odioso, mucha acción y mentiras (lo que, en sí, no estaba mal), pero muchas partes que resultaban demasiado confusas.
Desde el punto de vista de la edición, tengo que decir que es magnífica visualmente: tapa dura, con unas viñetas impresionantes que transmiten muchísimo. Sin embargo, en lo que a la historia en sí se refiere, no me ha terminado de gustar, no sé si es porque se ha perdido mucho al adaptarla a novela gráfica o porque, de por sí, la novela original no me habría gustado: un protagonista odioso, mucha acción y mentiras (lo que, en sí, no estaba mal), pero muchas partes que resultaban demasiado confusas.
September 8, 2018
Prodigiosa recreación de la Barcelona de finales del XIX y principios del XX, a través de unos personajes muy del estilo de Mendoza.
August 3, 2021
ბარსელონაზე ალბათ ყველას გვახსენდება ლამაზად ჩაწიკწიკებული უბნები. არადა, თუ ავტორს ვენდობით, სანამ აქამდე მოვიდოდა ქალაქი, ბევრი ურბანული უბედურება გამოიარა. მოსახლეობის სიმჭიდროვე, უშნო შენობები, გამწვანების სიმცირე და ა.შ. ეს იმედს გვიჩენს, რომ ოდესმე, თბილისის ბეტონის ჯუნგლებსაც შეიძლება ეშველოს რამე. :)
April 21, 2021
Había leído mucho de Eduardo Mendoza pero me faltaba este libro, que es de sus libros más famosos. Me ha gustado mucho como hila la trama con los acontecimientos históricos y como describe laBarcelona de finales del sXIX y primeros del sXX. No obstante, se me ha hecho un poco largo y la parte final no me ha parecido muy bien conectada con todo lo anterior. Aun así, con Eduardo Mendoza la vida es mucho mejor.
Read
December 4, 2012My comments on the book
From the bookflap:
I find writing about The City of Marvels difficult because I had little response to it. There are parts I enjoyed, usually with some of the digressions mentioned above, while most of the book didn’t move me to either like or hate it. Which is a shame because the book is very well done—I respect Mendoza’s talent even when reading through parts I find problematic.
I included the bookflap summary because it does a fair job of capturing the general flow of the book, which ultimately is about the development of Barcelona between the World Fairs hosted in the city in 1888 and 1929. Weaving history, statistics, lore, and fabrication into the narrative, Mendoza captures the era and the city’s struggle to modernize, oftentimes in spite of itself. Also reflected is the increasing tension between Madrid and Catalonia. To some extent the character of Onofre Bouvila reflects these struggles, first buffeted by the changes and later shaping them. Onofre’s disgust with his father, a bankrupt and scammer after his time spent in Cuba, echoes the general feeling of disappointment with the venal government. In order to succeed in this atmosphere Onofre has to exceed in cruelty and corruption, even when his intentions are good.
Every now and then the book comes alive, such as when Mendoza goes into detail about the gang war that established Onofre as the power behind a shadowy throne or when weaving a tale about Mata Hari’s capture that involves denying Spain receipt of the world's first full-length feature film. Too often, though, these scenes highlight how flat other parts feel. Despite spending a lot of time on Onofre, the character rarely seems to develop or grow, although now that I think about it, for someone so closely tied to the city that he supposedly embodies the spirit of the era and the city’s collective dreams, that may be precisely the point.
Similar to my comment in the post on The Truth about the Savolta Case, Mendoza seems to be anticipating the future while looking at the past. Just as the structure of the book uses the bookends of the two World Fairs to look at Barcelona’s entrance to the modern world, there seems to be an implied question as to Barcelona’s future. This goes beyond the then-upcoming 1992 Olympics the city would host (the book was released in 1986) and reflects on the cost, not limited to monetary measures, associated with such progress.
If you’ve read the book, I’m very interested in hearing your comments on it. And, of course, since there was a movie based on the book, I’ll be watching that and posting on it later this week (hopefully).
Update: I've added a post on the movie adaptation of the novel.
From the bookflap:
Here is the story of Onofre Bouvila, a poor Catalan country boy who arrives in Barcelona in 1886 and lies, cheats, and murders his way to enormous wealth and power.
Young Onofre first stays at a boardinghouse whose permanent residents are a distingue closet transvestite, a lady fortuneteller who treats her clients to large doses of doom, a garrulous barber who also pulls teeth, and a scullery maid who protects her virginity with the aid of a ferocious cat. Onofre, for his part, quickly establishes himself as an anarchist agitator. Yet he realizes just as quickly that his skills as organizer can be put to better use—selling a cure for baldness. He goes on to form a burglary ring, instigate real estate deals, build a film empire, but a world-famous diamond, reconstruct a mansion with eleven balconies, fall in and out of love with three women, and throw a reception for the Tsarina of Russia—where he chats with Rasputin while planning to sell arms to the Bolsheviks.
Meanwhile, in marvelous digressions, we learn about an old sailor who speaks a language no academic can identify; a nun who plays the accordion for the dying to cheer them up; a missionary priest who goes to the Sudan to make converts but is himself converted to the Dervish religion and returns home to preach sorcery; and about Eulalia, the patron saint of Barcelona, who steps down from her pedestal in the cathedral to talk to the mayor about housing problems.
I find writing about The City of Marvels difficult because I had little response to it. There are parts I enjoyed, usually with some of the digressions mentioned above, while most of the book didn’t move me to either like or hate it. Which is a shame because the book is very well done—I respect Mendoza’s talent even when reading through parts I find problematic.
I included the bookflap summary because it does a fair job of capturing the general flow of the book, which ultimately is about the development of Barcelona between the World Fairs hosted in the city in 1888 and 1929. Weaving history, statistics, lore, and fabrication into the narrative, Mendoza captures the era and the city’s struggle to modernize, oftentimes in spite of itself. Also reflected is the increasing tension between Madrid and Catalonia. To some extent the character of Onofre Bouvila reflects these struggles, first buffeted by the changes and later shaping them. Onofre’s disgust with his father, a bankrupt and scammer after his time spent in Cuba, echoes the general feeling of disappointment with the venal government. In order to succeed in this atmosphere Onofre has to exceed in cruelty and corruption, even when his intentions are good.
Every now and then the book comes alive, such as when Mendoza goes into detail about the gang war that established Onofre as the power behind a shadowy throne or when weaving a tale about Mata Hari’s capture that involves denying Spain receipt of the world's first full-length feature film. Too often, though, these scenes highlight how flat other parts feel. Despite spending a lot of time on Onofre, the character rarely seems to develop or grow, although now that I think about it, for someone so closely tied to the city that he supposedly embodies the spirit of the era and the city’s collective dreams, that may be precisely the point.
Similar to my comment in the post on The Truth about the Savolta Case, Mendoza seems to be anticipating the future while looking at the past. Just as the structure of the book uses the bookends of the two World Fairs to look at Barcelona’s entrance to the modern world, there seems to be an implied question as to Barcelona’s future. This goes beyond the then-upcoming 1992 Olympics the city would host (the book was released in 1986) and reflects on the cost, not limited to monetary measures, associated with such progress.
If you’ve read the book, I’m very interested in hearing your comments on it. And, of course, since there was a movie based on the book, I’ll be watching that and posting on it later this week (hopefully).
Update: I've added a post on the movie adaptation of the novel.
February 16, 2020
Myślę, że jest to książka, która podzieli czytelników na tych, którzy odłożą ją na półkę, uznając za nudną i na tych, którzy szczerze się nią zachwycą. Ja należę do tej drugiej grupy. Dialogów jest tu mało, dominują bardzo obszerne opisy, dzięki którym możemy zapoznać się bliżej z przemianami społecznymi i obyczajowymi, zachodzącymi w Barcelonie. Sarkastyczny język Mendozy zachwyca, podobnie jak rozmach, z jakim została napisana ta powieść i gawędziarski styl autora.
November 21, 2017
I was a bit disappointed with this one. I have read a few other novels by Mendoza, which I liked best.
Punctuation is weird (different sentences chained together with commas are less legible). The author rarely uses quotation marks or quotation dashes, so it't up to the reader to guess where some character stops speaking, and where the narrator resumes narrating. Full stops are scarce, and Mendoza mixes different situations and times in the same paragraph…
The story itself is entertaining, funny at times. But I felt frustrated every time an actual Historical figure or event was mentioned and Mendoza made up quite a lot of that, adding weird developments to what happened in reality.
Characters aren't well defined. The personality of the main character alone is an amorphous mix of a rascal, a businessman and a thug. It is not clear what are his feelings, or his feelings seem to change whimsically.
Punctuation is weird (different sentences chained together with commas are less legible). The author rarely uses quotation marks or quotation dashes, so it't up to the reader to guess where some character stops speaking, and where the narrator resumes narrating. Full stops are scarce, and Mendoza mixes different situations and times in the same paragraph…
The story itself is entertaining, funny at times. But I felt frustrated every time an actual Historical figure or event was mentioned and Mendoza made up quite a lot of that, adding weird developments to what happened in reality.
Characters aren't well defined. The personality of the main character alone is an amorphous mix of a rascal, a businessman and a thug. It is not clear what are his feelings, or his feelings seem to change whimsically.
July 21, 2011
Written in Spanish in 1986 ( La Cuidad de los Prodigios)and translated into English in 1988 by Bernard Molloy, THE CITY OF MARVELS is a chronicle of the modern age in which historical facts are combined with the story of the rise to power of Onofre Bouvila, a scheming, self-serving peasant boy who comes to Barcelona in search of work.
Set in the time period between 1888 and 1929, Mendoza's vivid portrayal of Barcelona, in all its splendor and squalor, echoes Onofre's rapid ascent to power and fabulous riches; and can be seen as symbolic of the rise of the Barcelona bourgeoisie.
With its multitude of eccentric characters, sardonic asides, and bizarre incidents, THE CITY OF MARVELS is hugely entertaining---a very good read.
Set in the time period between 1888 and 1929, Mendoza's vivid portrayal of Barcelona, in all its splendor and squalor, echoes Onofre's rapid ascent to power and fabulous riches; and can be seen as symbolic of the rise of the Barcelona bourgeoisie.
With its multitude of eccentric characters, sardonic asides, and bizarre incidents, THE CITY OF MARVELS is hugely entertaining---a very good read.
June 13, 2016
Recuerdo haberlo leído con ventipocos años y he tenido la misma sensación es estar atrapado por la historia de Onofre desde el capitulo 1. Creo que hay dos puntos claves en el libro:
- La ambientación de la historia de Barcelona y sus gentes en el período que discurre entre exposiciones.
- La historia personal de ascenso de Onofre desde la pobreza reinante de la época a prohombre del país. Realmente llegas a tener por él ese mismo sentimiento de respeto/desprecio que muestran los personajes del libro.
Además, todo ello salpicado por secundarios que hacen más amena aún la lectura del libro. Muy recomendado, lo situo en mi top de libros de narrativa.
- La ambientación de la historia de Barcelona y sus gentes en el período que discurre entre exposiciones.
- La historia personal de ascenso de Onofre desde la pobreza reinante de la época a prohombre del país. Realmente llegas a tener por él ese mismo sentimiento de respeto/desprecio que muestran los personajes del libro.
Además, todo ello salpicado por secundarios que hacen más amena aún la lectura del libro. Muy recomendado, lo situo en mi top de libros de narrativa.
July 9, 2011
دائماً ماتستهويني تلك القصص عن المدن نشأتها ازدهارها المحن التي ��لت بها ,تلك الأمور التي تتضح جلية على وجوه وطباع من عاشوا فيها فأصبحوا لاشعورياً يتلبسون بثوبها وطريقة عيشها في هذه الحياة.
اونفري بوفيلا شاب قدم الى برشلونة المقفرة الخالية ورحل منها وهي مزدهرة و عامرة فباختصار برشلونة هي اونفري و اونفري هو برشلونة.
مازاد اعجابي في الرواية ايضاً هي سردها التاريخي الواقعي لتاريخ المدينة في نهاية القرن التاسع عشر,عند قدوم اونفري بوفيلا اليها,الى النصف الأول من القرن العشرين
اعتقد انك بعد ان تنتهي من تلك الرواية ستتفهم كثيراً لمقولة
"catalonia is not spain"
اونفري بوفيلا شاب قدم الى برشلونة المقفرة الخالية ورحل منها وهي مزدهرة و عامرة فباختصار برشلونة هي اونفري و اونفري هو برشلونة.
مازاد اعجابي في الرواية ايضاً هي سردها التاريخي الواقعي لتاريخ المدينة في نهاية القرن التاسع عشر,عند قدوم اونفري بوفيلا اليها,الى النصف الأول من القرن العشرين
اعتقد انك بعد ان تنتهي من تلك الرواية ستتفهم كثيراً لمقولة
"catalonia is not spain"
September 28, 2013
A big book which started off quite slow... once it got into the main story I enjoyed it and felt it was a great way of learning about the city of Barcelona during the period (1180's -1920's - ish).
By the final third it was jumping all over the place - passages of past events mixed in the middle of current events - I found that confusing and annoying. It then felt like it was trying too hard - to fit in events and occurrences of the period rather than continuing a story that everything fit with. I'm left wondering what did actually happen and what was fictional.
By the final third it was jumping all over the place - passages of past events mixed in the middle of current events - I found that confusing and annoying. It then felt like it was trying too hard - to fit in events and occurrences of the period rather than continuing a story that everything fit with. I'm left wondering what did actually happen and what was fictional.
March 18, 2023
Sin duda, todo un ejemplo para los interesados en ver el crecimiento de la ciudad de Barcelona entre la primera exposición universal (1888) y la segunda (1929).
Interesante novela desde el punto de vista de un niño criado en el mundo rural que motivado para crecer, decide ir a Barcelona a iniciar una nueva vida empezando dando panfletos de origen anarquista hasta llegar a ser una especie de mafioso de la ciudad.
La trama del personaje se entrelaza con capítulos de desarrollo y explicación de la evolución urbanística, social y económica a veces excesivamente largos.
Interesante novela desde el punto de vista de un niño criado en el mundo rural que motivado para crecer, decide ir a Barcelona a iniciar una nueva vida empezando dando panfletos de origen anarquista hasta llegar a ser una especie de mafioso de la ciudad.
La trama del personaje se entrelaza con capítulos de desarrollo y explicación de la evolución urbanística, social y económica a veces excesivamente largos.
July 28, 2021
Cuando agarré este, de Mendoza yo solo conocía a Gurb. El registro de este libro es completamente distinto, por supuesto. Nos encontramos con una novela mucho más amplia, y profunda, que narra la evolución de un personaje pero también la evolución de la Barcelona en la que sucede todo. Fantástica novela. Me encantó.
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