THE SHADOW OF THE WIND by Zafon, Carlos Ruiz - 2004

New York, New York, U.S.A. : Penguin Press, 2004. First U.S. Edition 1st Printing. Hardcover. Fine/Fine. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. The discovery of a forgotten book leads to a hunt for an elusive author who may or may not still be alive... Hidden in the heart of the old city of Barcelona is the 'cemetery of lost books', a labyrinthine library of obscure and forgotten titles that have long gone out of print. To this library, a man brings his 10-year-old son Daniel one cold morning in 1945. Daniel is allowed to choose one book from the shelves and pulls out 'La Sombra del Viento' by Julian Carax. But as he grows up, several people seem inordinately interested in his find. Then, one night, as he is wandering the old streets once more, Daniel is approached by a figure who reminds him of a character from La Sombra del Viento, a character who turns out to be the devil. This man is tracking down every last copy of Carax's work in order to burn them. What begins as a case of literary curiosity turns into a race to find out the truth behind the life and death of Julian Carax and to save those he left behind. A page-turning exploration of obsession in literature and love, and the places that obsession can lead. Translated from the Spanish by Lucia Graves. THE SHADOW OF THE WIND is the first book in the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series. Author also of THE ANGEL GAME, THE PRISONER OF HEAVEN, and THE MIDNIGHT HOUSE. Fine, unread, first edition, first printing, in fine, mylar-protected dust jacket. [Not remainder-marked or price-clipped] *Packed carefully and shipped in a box to insure arrival in this condition. L146/L113