Here’s the translation into American English:
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Writer Joan Montes, known for his previous work “The Day Fidel Castro Died,” returns to the literary scene with his new novel “Resist and Overcome,” published by Tregolam Publishing. Set in the final years of Franco’s regime, the story begins in 1975 in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, where a young man named Sergio Sandoval embarks on a journey of discovery regarding the ties that connect his family’s destiny with the history of his country.
Throughout the narrative, the protagonist delves into a journey that spans the significant moments of Spanish history, from the Cuban War to the democratic transition, passing through the working-class Barcelona of the 20th century, the Civil War, exile, and the post-war period. Montes, born in Barcelona in 1959 and with an extensive background as an educator and writer, successfully infuses his critical perspective into fictional narrative, intertwining the history of Spain with a family saga of humble roots.
The novel offers an intimate and human perspective on key historical events, reclaiming the memory of those who, often invisible, held the country together: those who lost, remained silent, or were silenced. With a direct style and a brisk pace, Montes alternates deep reflections with energetic dialogues, integrating real historical figures into the plot without diminishing the focus on the human story.
Montes emphasizes that his narrative blends the fiction of a family saga that coexists with a historical reality shaped by a political class that rarely favored the most vulnerable. The importance of recovering historical memory is presented as a central theme, highlighting its relevance today to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.
“Resist and Overcome” not only entertains but also educates, challenges, and moves readers, becoming an essential read for lovers of historical novels, educators, and young people interested in understanding Spain’s recent past. The work is now available in selected bookstores and on digital platforms like Amazon, reaffirming that history is not only studied but also inherited.
Referrer: MiMub in Spanish