This week, I am bringing back a title that was published in November, and made all of us who had the pleasure of reading it fall in love with it, and that remains in bookstores because it has something special. Jon Echanove is the author of The Apprentice (Original title: El Aprendiz), a book that manages to combine the narrative skills of the great masters of the historical genre with freshness, making its reading a unique experience.
Set in Seville in the 17th century, The Apprentice is a work full of adventure, action and a picaresque reminiscent of the classics, with an emotional depth and a construction of characters that will not leave the reader indifferent.
The story follows Lagartija, an orphaned boy who lives in the Triana neighborhood with his friend Manco and two twins. Every day they roam the alleys of the city, looking for food and coping with the adversities of everyday life. But a fatal twist separates the gang, and Lagartija is forced to face life alone, with no help but his cunning and determination. When a Flemish merchant named Hendrick van Belle enters his life, Lagartija is drawn into a world of shady deals and dangers that will test his wits and courage.
Jon Echanove succeeds in recreating the Seville of the time with an impressive level of detail, transforming the city into a vibrant setting full of contrasts: dazzling in its beauty, but also ruthless in its violence, corruption and ambition.
The author tells the story through the eyes of a child, giving the plot a unique perspective that highlights both the loss of innocence and the hard lessons that life has in store for the protagonist.
With El Aprendiz, Echanove not only pays homage to the great classics of historical literature, but also offers a reflection on the struggle for survival, sacrifice, and the loss of innocence in a world that seems to be against you. The novel evokes the magic of stories like Oliver Twist and is a must read for lovers of picaresque and historical fiction.
For all these reasons, I recommend reading El Aprendiz. A novel full of action, emotion and a unique view of Seville in the 17th century that will captivate you from the first sentence. Don’t miss out on this incredible literary adventure.
