
When the flames of the Peninsular War threaten to swallow Spain, the ancient city of Zaragoza stands as a beacon of defiant pride. In the opening act, we meet a cast of unforgettable locals—Candiola, the shrewd miser; his spirited daughter Mariquilla; and the charismatic citizen Don José de Montoria—each wrestling with the chaos of an invading army. Their daily struggles, from cramped markets to secret meetings, reveal a community refusing to be silenced.
As the French forces tighten their siege, the citizens of Zaragoza transform ordinary streets into battlegrounds of courage. Women like the brave Manuela Sancho rally the wounded and inspire the men, while the city's narrow alleys become stages for daring raids and desperate defenses. Through vivid scenes of fire, gunfire, and whispered plans, the narrative captures both the brutality of war and the unbreakable spirit that makes Zaragoza a symbol of Spanish valor.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (401K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Josep Cols Canals, Roberto Marabini and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
Release date
2014-12-24
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1843–1920
One of the great novelists of 19th-century Spain, he turned the streets, politics, and everyday lives of Madrid into vivid fiction. Best known for the vast Episodios nacionales and novels such as Fortunata y Jacinta, he wrote with warmth, sharp observation, and a deep feel for ordinary people.
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