Spanish is one of the most frequently spoken and extensively read languages globally. The canon of Spanish-language literature is vast and diverse, spanning the globe. Here is a list of some of the most widely read books by Spanish authors.
Must-Read Spanish Books :
La Sombra del Viento by Carlos Ruiz Zafón (English Title: The shadow of the Wind)
This romantic thriller set in Barcelona is a worldwide hit by Spanish author Carlos Luis Zafón. It portrays a young writer who is approached by a mysterious, unknown figure and instructed to write a book, beginning with the Industrial Revolution and ending with the Spanish Civil War aftermath.
La Sombra del Viento has sold 15 million copies worldwide in various languages, making it one of the best books by a Spanish author in the world.
This one has a lot of magical realism, but it isn’t officially a part of the genre.
Las travesuras de la niña mala by Mario Vargas Llosa (English Title Read: The Shadow of the Wind )
This love story by Mario Vargas Llosa, a Peruvian author who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2010, is likely to be a hit with language enthusiasts.
The main character works as a conference interpreter in numerous locations throughout the world.
He begins in Lima, Peru, in the 1940s and 1950s, then travels to Paris, London, and Tokyo before arriving in Madrid.
Vargas Llosa uses this opportunity to depict the many histories of these cities and their current state. In the 1970s and 1980s, he recounts hippies and the HIV/AIDS epidemic in London, Madrid, and Paris and the worst of revolution and guerrilla warfare in Peru. This book is a must read.
Como agua para chocolate by Laura Esquivel (English Title Read: Like Water for Chocolate)
Mexican novelist Laura Esquivel’s famous novel Como agua para chocolate is a classic of the magic realism genre.
A traditional Mexican family uses cooking to express their thoughts and accomplish their ambitions genuinely.
Also, the mystical mysticism that surrounds them to escape their mundane life, in which they are limited by society’s expectations and mandated gender roles.
The novel was first published monthly in a magazine by Laura Esquivel, with a fresh dish accompanying each chapter.
As a result, I am reading this book will also teach you how to prepare some delectable Mexican cuisine!
Como agua para chocolate is an excellent book for intermediate Spanish students, and it was even adapted into a movie in 1992.
El corazón helado by Almudena Grandes (English Title Read: The Frozen Heart )
Almudena Grandes was one of Spain’s most famous and well-liked female authors, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez describing her as “one of our time’s most essential writers.” Unfortunately, in November 2021, she died, and the entire country was in sorrow.
One of her best novels, El corazón helado, is a historical memory exercise in which she delves into the tumultuous past of the Spanish Civil War. This book by a Spanish writer is one of the most renowned amongst the readers.
La Historia de Mis dientes by Valeria Luiselli (English Title Read: The Story of My Teeth)
The protagonist reflects on his life as a traveller, legendary auctioneer, and tooth collector, including Plato’s, Petrarch’s, G.K. Chesterton’s, and Virginia Woolf’s teeth.
He’s replaced his crooked molars, incisors, and other teeth with ones that initially belonged to Marilyn Monroe.
Luiselli’s work includes more surprises per page than most novelists can put into a shelf of fiction, ranging from everyday revelations to obscure and bizarre epiphanies.
Its central theme is how art and literature acquire worth and meaning—in other words, how stories develop significance—but its overarching attitude is one of creativity, exhilaration, and delight.
Christina MacSweeney’s translation not only captures but also contributes to that spirit.
These are some widely read books by Spanish writers that could keep a reader entertained linguistically.
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