Description
Book Synopsis“[A] stirring song of freedom.” —Nobel Prize laureate Mario Vargas Llosa From a renowned prize-winning Argentinian author comes a historical novel based on the true story of one man’s faith, spirit, and resistance during the Spanish Inquisition in Latin America. Born in sixteenth-century Argentina, Francisco Maldonado da Silva is nine years old when he sees his father, Don Diego, arrested one harrowing afternoon because of his beliefs. Raised in a family practicing its Jewish faith in secret under the condemning eyes of the Spanish Inquisition, Francisco embarks on a personal quest that will challenge, enlighten, and forever change him. He completes his education in a monastery; he reads the Bible; he dreams of reparation; he dedicates his life to science, developing a humanistic approach and becoming one of the first accredited medical doctors in Latin America; and most of all, he longs to reconnect with his father in Lima, Perú, the City of Kings. So begins Francisco’s epic journey to fight for his true faith, to embrace his past, and to draw from his father’s indomitable strength in the face of unimaginable persecution. But the arm of the Holy Inquisition is an intractable one. As it reaches for Francisco, he sheds his mask to defend his freedom. Against seemingly insurmountable odds, he will prove that while the body can be broken, the spirit fights back, endures, and survives.
Trade Review“Veteran Argentine author Aguinis, the first non-Spaniard to win the coveted Planeta Prize, writes the book of a lifetime, a big, booming, open-hearted saga on a deadly serious topic—the Spanish Inquisition in Latin America…Both strong historical chronicle and spirited defense of the right to believe, presented in straightforward language appropriate for the widest range of readers.” —Library Journal (starred review) “These issues, of religious persecution and forced suppression of cultural identity, are as relevant in parts of the world today as they were in da Silva’s time, and for that reason, along with the inherently interesting story of Francisco’s life, this book is worth reading.” —Beyond the Lamp Post “Against the Inquisition is both a personal reflection and a universal indictment of intolerance masquerading as the quest for purity of faith…told with sensitivity and understanding…willing to delve into the ugliness of the past to illuminate the human spirit that, in the end, transcends.” —Historical Novel Review “An utterly engrossing story that will enrich…understanding of the past while inspiring reflection on the present…” —Moment Magazine
