Skip to product information
1 of 2

DEBOLSILLO

Conversation in the Cathedral

Conversation in the Cathedral

Our Review

Mario Vargas Llosa, like other authors of his generation such as Gabriel García Márquez, is not easy to read. Some of his books, like this one, require time and quiet contemplation to be enjoyed. It is complex, but very interesting. If you are looking for a book that will not leave you indifferent and with which you can share some hours of your time, this is perfect.

It all stems from the famous question: "At what moment did Peru go to hell?". This is the question that drives "Conversation in The Cathedral," one of the masterpieces of Spanish literature. From a chance encounter in a bar, the long conversation between a businessman's son and his father's former chauffeur becomes the autopsy of an entire country.

Through a fascinating mosaic of memories and interwoven dialogues, Vargas Llosa uncovers the corruption, family secrets, and broken lives under a military dictatorship. It is a demanding and powerful novel about the disillusionment of a generation and the way the mediocrity of power can infect everything. An unforgettable read to understand how the history of a country is written in the lives of its people.

Book Details

Synopsis

In the mid-60s, Santiago Zavala, a journalist who has renounced his family's bourgeois life, coincidentally meets Ambrosio, his father's former chauffeur. Both enter a bar called "The Cathedral" and, over a long conversation, they fragmentedly reconstruct the years of General Odría's dictatorship (1948-1956). Through their memories and those of other characters, the novel weaves a web that connects all layers of Lima society, revealing a plot of corruption, conspiracies, and crimes that directly implicate Santiago's family.

About the Author

Mario Vargas Llosa (Arequipa, 1936 - 2025) was one of the most influential figures in contemporary literature. A Doctor of Philosophy and Letters, his work expresses a firm commitment to the social and political reality of Latin America. He was the author of fundamental novels such as The City and the Dogs and The Feast of the Goat. His career was recognized in 2010 with the Nobel Prize in Literature. In 1993 he acquired Spanish nationality and a year later he joined the Royal Spanish Academy, also receiving the Miguel de Cervantes Prize.

Technical Specifications

  • Pages: 736

  • Author: Mario Vargas Llosa

  • Publisher: Debolsillo

  • Binding: Paperback

  • Edition: 2015

  • ISBN: 9788490625620

Regular price €14,21 EUR
Regular price €14,96 EUR Sale price €14,21 EUR
Sale Sold out
Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.
Please select a gift wrap

Escribe aquí tu nota especial (Opcional):

View full details

Our Philosophy

Reading and book selection

Our philosophy is very simple: we read and select every title we offer for sale.