Mystery · Historical
The Shadow of the Wind
Bestseller: about 15 million copies (estimate)In Barcelona after the Spanish Civil War, a boy is taken to a secret library of forgotten books and chooses one by an obscure author. He discovers that someone is burning every copy of that writer's work.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 2001
- Pace
- Medium
- Length
- Long
- Pages
- 487
- Format
- Book 1 of 5 in The Cemetery of Forgotten Books
Read this if you love gothic, bookish mysteries with a city as vivid as any character.
Skip this if you dislike heavy melodrama or long, tangled backstories.
The feel
Content warnings
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Quick answers about The Shadow of the Wind
- What is The Shadow of the Wind about?
- In Barcelona after the Spanish Civil War, a boy is taken to a secret library of forgotten books and chooses one by an obscure author. He discovers that someone is burning every copy of that writer's work.
- Who should read The Shadow of the Wind?
- Read it if you love gothic, bookish mysteries with a city as vivid as any character. Skip it if you dislike heavy melodrama or long, tangled backstories.
- How long and how fast is The Shadow of the Wind?
- It is a medium-paced, long read of about 487 pages, first published in 2001.
- Does The Shadow of the Wind have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Violence, Death, War, Torture.
- Can I borrow The Shadow of the Wind for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends The Shadow of the Wind; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after The Shadow of the Wind?
- Readers who liked it often move on to The Starless Sea, The Secret History, The Name of the Rose.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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