Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Encyclopedia
Carlos Ruiz Zafón is a Spanish
novel
ist who has lived in Los Angeles
since 1993, where he spent a few years writing scripts whilst developing his career as a writer.
His first novel, El príncipe de la niebla (The Prince of Mist, 1993), earned the Edebé
literary prize for young adult fiction. He is also the author of three more young adult novels, El palacio de la medianoche (1994), Las luces de septiembre (1995) and Marina (1999).
In 2001 he published the novel La sombra del viento (The Shadow of the Wind
), his first "adult" novel, which has sold millions of copies worldwide and more than a million copies in the UK alone. Since its publication, La sombra del viento has garnered critical acclaim around the world and has won many international awards. Ruiz Zafón's works have been published in 45 countries and have been translated into more than 30 languages. According to these figures, Ruiz Zafón is the most successful contemporary Spanish writer, along with Javier Sierra
, whose works have been published in forty-two countries, and Juan Gómez-Jurado
, whose works have been published in forty-one countries.
Ruiz Zafón's second novel El juego del angel, was published in April 2008. The English edition, The Angel's Game
, is translated by Lucia Graves
, daughter of the poet Robert Graves
. It is a prequel to The Shadow of the Wind, also set in Barcelona
, but during the 1920s and 1930s. It follows (and is narrated by) David Martin, a young writer who is approached by a mysterious figure to write a book. Ruiz Zafón intends it to be included in a four book series along with The Shadow of the Wind.
The English version of El príncipe de la niebla (The Prince of Mist, 1993) was published in 2010.
Apart from books, another large influence comes in the form of films and screenwriting. He says in interviews that he finds it easier to visualize scenes in his books in a cinematic way, which lends itself to the lush worlds and curious characters he creates.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
ist who has lived in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
since 1993, where he spent a few years writing scripts whilst developing his career as a writer.
His first novel, El príncipe de la niebla (The Prince of Mist, 1993), earned the Edebé
Edebe
Edebe is female given name. The name originates from Sudan, in the concrete tribe of Gurfan meaning the first, princess.- External links :**...
literary prize for young adult fiction. He is also the author of three more young adult novels, El palacio de la medianoche (1994), Las luces de septiembre (1995) and Marina (1999).
In 2001 he published the novel La sombra del viento (The Shadow of the Wind
The Shadow of the Wind
The Shadow of the Wind is a 2001 novel by Spanish writer Carlos Ruiz Zafón, and a worldwide bestseller. The book was translated into English in 2004 by Lucia Graves and sold over a million copies in the UK after already achieving success on mainland Europe, topping the Spanish bestseller lists for...
), his first "adult" novel, which has sold millions of copies worldwide and more than a million copies in the UK alone. Since its publication, La sombra del viento has garnered critical acclaim around the world and has won many international awards. Ruiz Zafón's works have been published in 45 countries and have been translated into more than 30 languages. According to these figures, Ruiz Zafón is the most successful contemporary Spanish writer, along with Javier Sierra
Javier Sierra
Javier Sierra Albert is a journalist, writer and researcher who studied journalism at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. He is editor consultant of the monthly magazine Más Allá de la Ciencia distributed in Spain and Latin America and he participates in several radio and television programs...
, whose works have been published in forty-two countries, and Juan Gómez-Jurado
Juan Gómez-Jurado
Juan Gómez-Jurado is an award-winning Spanish journalist and bestselling author. Currently, he is a columnist in "La Voz de Galicia," and "ABC", distributed in Spain, and he participates in several radio and TV programs...
, whose works have been published in forty-one countries.
Ruiz Zafón's second novel El juego del angel, was published in April 2008. The English edition, The Angel's Game
The Angel's Game
The Angel's Game is a prequel to 2001's The Shadow of the Wind by Spanish author Carlos Ruiz Zafón. Like The Shadow of the Wind, it was translated into English by Lucia Graves, daughter of the poet Robert Graves, and published in 2009.The Angel's Game is set in Barcelona in the 1920s and 1930s...
, is translated by Lucia Graves
Lucia Graves
Lucia Graves is a writer and translator.Born in Devon, England she is the daughter of Robert Graves, and is herself a translator working in English and Spanish/Catalan. Her translations include the worldwide bestsellers The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, and The...
, daughter of the poet Robert Graves
Robert Graves
Robert von Ranke Graves 24 July 1895 – 7 December 1985 was an English poet, translator and novelist. During his long life he produced more than 140 works...
. It is a prequel to The Shadow of the Wind, also set in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, but during the 1920s and 1930s. It follows (and is narrated by) David Martin, a young writer who is approached by a mysterious figure to write a book. Ruiz Zafón intends it to be included in a four book series along with The Shadow of the Wind.
The English version of El príncipe de la niebla (The Prince of Mist, 1993) was published in 2010.
Young Adult
- El Príncipe de la NieblaEl Príncipe de la NieblaThe Prince of Mist is a 1993 mystery and horror young adult novel by Carlos Ruiz Zafón.-Plot summary:Max Carver, son of a watchmaker, has moved with his family from the city in order to get away from the war. Max's new house was formerly owned by Richard Fleischman, his wife and son...
(1993), republished as The Prince of Mist (2010) - El Palacio de la Medianoche (1994), republished as The Midnight Palace (2011)
- Las luces de septiembre (1995), to be republished as The Watcher in the Shadows (May 10, 2012)
- Marina (1999)
Novels
- The Shadow of the WindThe Shadow of the WindThe Shadow of the Wind is a 2001 novel by Spanish writer Carlos Ruiz Zafón, and a worldwide bestseller. The book was translated into English in 2004 by Lucia Graves and sold over a million copies in the UK after already achieving success on mainland Europe, topping the Spanish bestseller lists for...
(2001) - The Angel's GameThe Angel's GameThe Angel's Game is a prequel to 2001's The Shadow of the Wind by Spanish author Carlos Ruiz Zafón. Like The Shadow of the Wind, it was translated into English by Lucia Graves, daughter of the poet Robert Graves, and published in 2009.The Angel's Game is set in Barcelona in the 1920s and 1930s...
(2008) - The Heaven's Prisoner (2011)
Influences
Influences on Ruiz Zafón's work have included 19th century classics, crime fiction, noir authors and contemporary writers including.Apart from books, another large influence comes in the form of films and screenwriting. He says in interviews that he finds it easier to visualize scenes in his books in a cinematic way, which lends itself to the lush worlds and curious characters he creates.