Winter in Madrid

A special 10th anniversary edition of the standalone bestseller, Winter in Madrid, by the author of the much-loved Shardlake series, C. J. Sansom.

1940: The Spanish Civil War is over, and Madrid lies ruined, its people starving, while the Germans continue their relentless march through Europe. Britain now stands alone while General Franco considers whether to abandon neutrality and enter the war.

Into this uncertain world comes Harry Brett: a traumatized veteran of Dunkirk turned reluctant spy for the British Secret Service. Sent to gain the confidence of old school friend Sandy Forsyth, now a shady Madrid businessman, Harry finds himself involved in a dangerous game - and surrounded by memories.

Meanwhile Sandy's girlfriend, ex-Red Cross nurse Barbara Clare, is engaged in a secret mission of her own - to find her former lover Bernie Piper, a passionate Communist in the International Brigades, who vanished on the bloody battlefields of the Jarama.

In a vivid and haunting depiction of wartime Spain, Winter in Madrid by C. J. Sansom is an intimate and compelling tale which offers a remarkable sense of history unfolding, and the profound impact of impossible choices.

Auteur

C. J. Sansom was educated at Birmingham University, where he took a BA and then a PhD in history. After working in a variety of jobs, he retrained as a solicitor and practised in Sussex until becoming a full-time writer. He received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Edinburgh in 2023. Sansom was the bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Shardlake series, as well as Winter in Madrid and Dominion.

Résumé
'An unsentimental and utterly fascinating portrait of Spain in 1940 . . . Superb' - The GuardianA vivid and haunting depiction of wartime Spain, Winter in Madrid by C. J. Sansom is a compelling historical novel that grapples with the profound impact of impossible choices.1940. The Spanish Civil War is over, and Madrid lies ruined. Now, as General Franco considers whether to abandon neutrality and enter the war, Britain stands alone against Germany's relentless march through Europe.Into this uncertain world comes Harry Brett: a traumatized veteran of Dunkirk turned reluctant spy for the British Secret Service. Sent to gain the confidence of an old school friend turned shady Madrid businessman, Harry soon finds himself involved in a dangerous game - and surrounded by memories he would rather forget.'A convincing and moving historical novel, which is also an exciting thriller' - The Sunday Times'Sansom's action-packed thriller is a classic tale of old loyalties pitched against new ideologies' - Daily Mail