Javier Marías Books

The concluding part to Marias's masterwork: 'This trilogy must be one of the greatest novels of our age (Antony Beevor)

Jacques Deza has been recruited into an undercover spy network by the inscrutable Bertram Tupra. But when he is forced to witness an act of horrifying brutality in a night-club, he finds himself falling apart, haunted by his own memories of the bloodshed of the Spanish Civil War

Century after century, the essence of Venice is unchanging. It is a place of contradictions, equal parts glamour and chaos. As a young man, Javier Marías made the city his home; since then he has left and returned many times, drawn back to its labyrinth of blind alleys, its pearly green canals, its imagined spaces. His love affair with the city has lasted over thirty years - he has traced every inch of its endless interior, has lived among the Venetians and lived apart from them. In Venice, An Interior, Marías sets out to uncover the heart of this strange and enchanting place

Publisher's description. From one of Spain's most acclaimed literary voices comes a rich and complex portrait of mutual deception, toxic love and cruel, lingering guilt. A youth caught in the middle of someone else's bitter marriage; a beautiful woman scorned; a man torn between conscience and will. Step into the melancholic, unforgiving world of Javier Marías. Penguin

Marias casts a knowing eye on the secrets that bring couples together and break them apart - the admissions that conceal, the lies that reveal - and the infinite capacity for self-deception in pursuit of love.

BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023 ACCORDING TO GUARDIAN AND THE SPECTATOR The final novel from one of the greatest writers of the past half century'No-one nowadays writes prose like Javier Marias . . . If you're already a fan, you'll know what to expect and rejoice. If you're not, what a treat you have in store' The HeraldTomas Nevinson, a retired MI6 agent, is working for the British Embassy in Madrid when his former handler, the sinister Bertram Tupra, offers to bring him back inside for one last assignment. His mission: to catch and, if necessary, kill a terrorist gone to ground in Northern Spain after bombings in Barcelona and Zaragoza. The trouble is there are three suspects - all women - and it may not actually be any of them. To find out, Nevinson must move incognito to the small town where the three women separately live, and become an intimate friend to each, in the hope of uncovering a clue . . .A philosophical thriller with a climate of suspense to rival le Carre and a psychological depth that is purely Marias's own, this is a novel that explores the deepest of human questions: in what circumstances can killing be called just?Translated by Margaret Jull Costa'The last word from a master . . . once you've been inside Marias' world, to spend too long outside is unbearable' The Sunday Times'A twisting espionage tale shot through with slantwise humour . . . seductive and inescapably poignant' Observer

'For a while, she wasn't sure that her husband was her husband. Sometimes she thought he was, and sometimes not.' Berta and Tomas meet in Madrid and, though both young, they decide to spend their lives together. Eighteen and betrothed, Tomas leaves to study at Oxford. His talent for languages quickly catches the interest of a certain government agency, but Tomas resists their offers - until one day he makes a mistake that will affect the rest of his life, and that of his beloved Berta. After university he returns to marry her, knowing he won't be able to stay for long . . . Gripping and intricate, Berta Isla is about a relationship built on secrets and lies - and the counter forces of resentment and loyalty at its core.

Exploring the intricacies of human relationships and the complexities of life, this collection features a dozen captivating stories by a master of contemporary Spanish literature. Marías delves into themes of love, loss, and identity, showcasing his signature style that blends profound insight with rich narrative. Each story invites readers to reflect on the subtleties of existence, making this anthology a compelling addition for fans of literary fiction.

Revealing that Conrad actually hated sailing and Emily Bronte was so tough she was known as 'The Major', among many other stories of eccentricity, drunkenness and even murder, this book uses unusual angles and peculiar details to illuminate writers' lives in a new way.