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Madrid, 1960–2021

Almudena Grandes

Almudena Grandes (Madrid, 1960-2021) was a Spanish novelist and a columnist for El País. Much of her writing returns to Spain's recent history, especially what the Franco dictatorship kept silent. She made her name with Las edades de Lulú (1989), and in her later years worked on Episodios de una guerra interminable, a cycle of novels about the post-war years modelled on Galdós's Episodios nacionales.

Where to start with Almudena Grandes

Their books on Pecia, in the order we'd read them.

  1. El lector de Julio Verneabout 10 hoursThe second episode of the cycle and the first in this catalogue: the post-war years seen by a nine-year-old boy in a village in Jaén in 1947.
  2. Los pacientes del doctor Garcíaabout 19 hoursThe fourth episode, which won the National Prize for Narrative in 2018; it links Franco's Madrid with a network helping Nazi war criminals escape.
  3. La madre de Frankensteinabout 14 hoursThe fifth episode and the last finished novel published in her lifetime: psychiatry in the 1950s, centred on Aurora Rodríguez Carballeira.
  4. Escalera interiorOutside the cycle: short pieces she wrote for El País Semanal, good for reading in small doses and for her more personal voice.

Almudena Grandes's books, second-hand

4 books with used copies for sale. On average, 18% below the cover price. Prices from 6 October 2026.

Los pacientes del doctor GarcíaAlmudena Grandesfrom €7.36 −43%Escalera interiorAlmudena Grandesfrom €10.40 −25%
La madre de FrankensteinAlmudena Grandesfrom €11.25 −13%
El lector de Julio VerneAlmudena Grandesfrom €13.18

What critics say

Las edades de Lulú was a notable success and reached more than twenty languages, and six of her books were made into films. Among other honours, Los pacientes del doctor García won her Spain's 2018 National Prize for Narrative.

If you like Almudena Grandes

What the reading guides of their books suggest.

Written with AI help from Wikipedia and Pecia's reading guides, and reviewed by a person. Biographical facts from Wikidata. Wikipedia (es) · Wikipedia (en)