The Fountains of Silence

PHILOMEL BOOKS

An imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, New York

First published in the United States of America by Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2019.

Copyright © 2019 by Ruta Sepetys.

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ublication data

Names: Sepetys, Ruta, author. Title: The fountains of silence : a novel / Ruta Sepetys. Description: New York : Philomel Books, [2019] | Summary: At the Castellana Hilton in 1957 Madrid, eighteen-year-old Daniel Matheson connects with Ana Moreno through photography and fate as Daniel discovers the incredibly dark side of the city under Generalissimo Franco’s rule. Identifiers: LCCN 2019018127| ISBN 9780399160318 (hardback) | ISBN 9780593116708 (hardcover) | ISBN 9780593115251 (hardcover) | ISBN 9780593174511 (eBook) Subjects: LCSH: Spain—History—20th century—Juvenile fiction. | CYAC: Madrid (Spain)—History—Fiction. | Spain—History—20th century—Fiction. | Dictatorship—Fiction. | Hotels, motels, etc—Fiction. | Photography—Fiction. | Secrets—Fiction. | Franco, Francisco, 1892-1975—Fiction. Classification: LCC PZ7.S47957 Fou 2019 | DDC [Fic]—dc23

LC record available at
https://lccn.loc.gov/2019018127

Ebook ISBN 9780698174511

Edited by Liza Kaplan. Design by Ellice M. Lee. Text set in Bembo.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

The oral history excerpts included herein contain the personal recollections and opinions of the individuals interviewed and are meant to provide historical context. The views expressed should not be considered official statements of the U.S. government or the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training.

Bullfighting was popular throughout Spain in the 1950s. Save the bulls. Learn more at PACMA.es.

For Kristina and John

The Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) began as a military revolt against the democratically elected Second Spanish Republic and continued as an armed conflict between the Nationalists and the Republicans. The Nationalists were led by Generalísimo Francisco Franco and aided by Hitler and Mussolini. The Republicans were led by the democratic government at the time and aided by Mexico, the Soviet Union, and volunteers from over fifty countries, with support from academics, creatives, workers, unions, and leftists. Internally divided, the Republicans were not able to stop the Nationalist advance and surrendered in March of 1939.

Franco’s dictatorship lasted thirty-six
years.

We have only died if you forget us.

—anonymous epitaph

SPANISH CIVIL WAR MASS GRAVE