Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Set in post-war Barcelona, The Shadow of the Wind begins when a young boy named Daniel Sempere discovers a forgotten novel by an obscure author, Julián Carax. Fascinated by the book, Daniel sets out to learn more about its creator, only to discover that someone has been systematically destroying every copy of Carax’s work. His investigation leads him into a web of hidden identities, tragic romances, family secrets, and the lingering wounds of Spain’s turbulent past. As Daniel grows older, the mystery becomes increasingly connected to his own life. Blending Gothic atmosphere, historical fiction, and suspense, Zafón celebrates the power of books while exploring how stories can preserve forgotten lives and reveal truths that others desperately want to conceal.