In Barcelona, key sites from the fight against Franco remain, but their memory has been wiped clean
Women republican soldiers armed with rifles in the streets of Barcelona at the beginning of the Spanish civil war in 1936.
Research and Inspiration in Barcelona
The author visited Barcelona to research their novel The Room of Lost Steps, set during the Spanish Civil War.
The goal was to experience locations where street fighting and revolutionary events unfolded after the army rebellion in July 1936.
Many historic buildings still existed but gave no visible hint of past violence, creating a sense of uncovering a hidden past.
Historical Sites and Revolutionary Events:
Moulin Rouge (Parallel Boulevard): Converted into the People’s Tribunal by Anarchists; judges handed down death sentences reminiscent of the French Revolution.
Carmelite Monastery & Churches: Rebuilt since the war; exterior shows no trace of past atrocities.
Hotel Colón & Plaça de Catalunya: The hotel became a Communist Party headquarters post-revolution; the square was a battleground during the coup attempt.
Montjuïc Castle & Güell Palace: Key sites for secret prisons (“chekas”) and violent confrontations.
Novel’s Plot Highlights:
Theo Sterling: Young hero witnesses the collapse of revolutionary ideals, faces moral dilemmas as communists infiltrate the city.
Conflict: Theo becomes an interpreter aiding those he once supported, highlighting the betrayal and complexity of wartime loyalties.
Street Battles: Cobblestones used to build barricades; soldiers evacuated under anarchist pressure.
Brutality: Scenes depict mass killings, smoke bomb attacks, and symbolic displays of desecrated corpses.
