The Cypresses Believe in God [Paperback]

Jose Maria Gironella (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2005

Considered by many critics to be the greatest novel about the Spanish Civil War, this classic work by Spaniard José Maria Gironella is an unbiased account of the complicated events, movements and personalities that led up to the war. Beginning in 1931, Cypresses covers the next five years of political unrest, culminating in the explosion of the brutal war that wreaked such great havoc on Spain and its citizens. In his epic novel, both gripping and suspenseful, Gironella deftly portrays the human conflict, both internal and external. The most influential philosophical movements of the 20th century are embodied in various characters. Through them, the reader is introduced to every faction involved—ancharist, communist, Catholic, royalist, existentialist, and others.

Product Details

• Paperback: 900 pages
• Publisher: Ignatius Press (September 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1586170465
• ISBN-13: 978-1586170462
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #594,388 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece, September 27, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Cypresses Believe in God (Hardcover)

This book is filled with emotion and depicts with great skill the life and feelings of the people of the town of Gerona in Spain in the years before the Civil War. The most important thing is the personalities of the characters, but the suspense is great (I could not stop reading it for three straight days). It is a monument to catholicism too. It makes you understand how such a thing as the Spanish War took place. It was reprinted several times and had great impact in Spain and was followed by two more books. In my opinion the author deserves a Nobel Prize

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I've never bought so many copies of any book!, December 21, 2002

By 

Mr Steven Ambuul (san francisco, california) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cypresses Believe in God (Hardcover)

I've taken up history books of late - and picked up this novel to read it through a second time. Considered by most old Spaniards to be the most unbiased account of events leading up to the Spanish civil war.
What an amazing book! Not only is the story gripping, but the characters have an unmatched depth. Human conflict, both internal and external is portrayed with impressive deftness. The most influential philosophical movements of the 20th century are embodied in likeable, lovable, and sympathetic characters (anarchism, existentialism, communism, catholocism, etc). The Alvear family is touched by each through people they meet, and through changes in their beloved Gerona. But the Alvear's somehow avoid being absorbed into any one ideology and thus remain the perfect referees to convey the meaning in all that happens during these tumultuous years.
If you like history: read this book.
If you like philosophy: read this book.
If you like a great story: read this book.
At least, that's what I tell all the people to whom I've given copies.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Greatest Book I ever Read, December 1, 2001

By 

Randy Keehn (Williston, ND United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cypresses Believe in God (Hardcover)

I realize that I am overselling this book by calling it the greatest book I ever read but, it is. The reason for it is that I was always interested in the Spanish Civil War. I always viewed that event as a microcosm of the politics of the 20th Century. The problems with most histories of the event is that they don't fully cover the political spectrum. Gironella presents a review of life in Spain leading up to the outbreak of rebellion. In his use of characters, the reader is introduced to every faction involved; from anarchist to royalist and everything in between. This personalization of the politics makes it all the more understandable and gives one an insight to the many conflicts within the conflict. Yes, it's long but I didn't think so even after the second reading.