Why read The Fountains of Silence?

Book cover of The Fountains of Silence

Book description

A haunting and romantic novel set in post-war Spain by Ruta Sepetys - winner of the Carnegie Medal 2017.

Madrid, 1957.

Daniel, young, wealthy and unsure of his place in the world, views the city through the lens of his camera.

Ana, a hotel maid whose family is suffering under…

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Why read it?

3 authors picked The Fountains of Silence as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Laura Swan

Author

My heart was drawn into the story. It made me mad and yet hopeful about humanity

From Laura's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Beth Dotson Brown

Author

This book mixes history, social classes, cultures, and repression in a broiling stew of love, fear, and the will to survive that kept me captivated.

I wanted to see the characters overcome their own weaknesses as they built their survival skills in this captivating story that takes place in Spain during the Franco dictatorship.

From Beth's list on people who are pushed to change.

Kerry Chaput

Author

Ruta Sepetys never disappoints. The Fountains of Silence looks at young love under a Spanish dictatorship in 1957. This is such an unusual setting for historical fiction, and I devoured the book in a weekend. Daniel, the son of an oil tycoon, moves to Madrid and sees his privileged world through the lens of his camera.

He uncovers secrets and falls in love with the hotel maid Ana, whose life is affected in every way by the Spanish Civil War. The wealthy young photographer learns life lessons and bravery from the hardships of Ana’s life, with another rich, layered love…

From Kerry's 3 favorite reads in 2023.