
The novel opens on a damp Valencia morning, where gas‑lamp glows ripple across puddles like thin streams of blood and the city’s rooftops begin to emerge from the ash‑gray sky. The first trains whistle through the streets, while church bells and a distant rooster’s cry stitch together a chorus of awakening. This atmospheric tableau sets a tone of restless anticipation, hinting that the calm façade of daily life masks deeper currents.
Amid the mist‑cloaked alleys, a young protagonist steps into the bustling streets, drawn into the tangled web of night‑shift guards, hooded agents, and whispered rumors that swirl through the market squares. As the city’s hidden faces surface, personal ambitions clash with the larger forces shaping Valencia’s future. The story promises a vivid portrait of love, danger, and the struggle to find one’s place in a world on the brink of change.
Language
es
Duration
~7 hours (410K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2012-12-31
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1867–1928
A fiery Spanish novelist and political activist, he turned the landscapes and tensions of Valencia into vivid, sweeping fiction. His international success later carried his stories far beyond Spain, especially through major film adaptations.
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