Sant Jordi’s Day Barcelona

We are close to Book Day and one of the traditions in Barcelona is the Speech of Sant Jordi. Donna Leon will be in charge of reading the speech this year, and she will be the first woman to do so. Her last Commissario Brunetti book By Its Cover (William Heinemann, 2014) is already available in Spanish under the title Muerte entre líneas (Seix Barral, 2014) translated by Maia Figueroa Evans.

Synopsis: By Its Cover is the much anticipated twenty-third instalment in Donna Leon’s bestselling crime series, where Commissario Brunetti is better than ever as he addresses questions of worth and value alongside his ever-faithful team of Ispettore Vianello and Signorina Elettra. When several valuable antiquarian books go missing from a prestigious library in the heart of Venice, Commissario Brunetti is immediately called to the scene. The staff suspect an American researcher has stolen them, but for Brunetti something doesn’t quite add up. Taking on the case, the Commissario begins to seek information about some of the library’s regulars, such as the ex-priest Franchini, a passionate reader of ancient Christian literature, and Contessa Morosini-Albani, the library’s chief donor, and comes to the conclusion that the thief could not have acted alone. However, when Franchini is found murdered in his home, the case takes a more sinister turn and soon Brunetti finds himself submerged in the dark secrets of the black market of antiquarian books. Alongside his ever-faithful team of Ispettore Vianello and Signorina Elettra, he delves into the pages of Franchini’s past and into the mind of a book thief in order to uncover the terrible truth. (From the publisher)

Sinopsis: Una tarde, el comisario Brunetti recibe la llamada desesperada del director de una biblioteca veneciana. Diversos libros antiguos de gran valor han desaparecido.  Los bibliotecarios sospechan del hombre que pidió consultar los volúmenes, un catedrático de la Universidad de Kansas. El único problema es que, después de comprobar sus credenciales, el profesor simplemente no existe. Brunetti empieza entonces a investigar entre los habituales de la biblioteca, y es así como conoce al exsacerdote Franchini, un lector apasionado de literatura cristiana antigua, o la condesa Morosini-Albani, una generosa mecenas. Cuando Franchini aparece asesinado, el caso toma un rumbo más siniestro y pronto Brunetti se encuentra sumergido en el sombrío mundo del mercado negro de libros antiguos. En Muerte entre líneas, Donna Leon se ha inspirado en uno de los mayores escándalos del comercio de libros de la Historia: el robo, real, de miles de libros antiguos de la biblioteca napolitana de Girolamini. (De la editorial)

Donna Leon webpage in Spanish

Donna Leon webpage in English