The Fountains of Silence
Oct 2019 · Sold by Penguin
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16 reviews
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About this ebook
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the award-winning author of Salt to the Sea and Between Shades of Gray comes a gripping, extraordinary novel of love, silence, and secrets under a dictatorship in 1950s Spain.
“Suspenseful, romantic and timely . . . speaks truth to power, persuading future rulers to avoid repeating the crimes of the past."—The New York Times Book Review
Madrid, 1957. Under the fascist dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, Spain is hiding a dark secret. Meanwhile, tourists and foreign businessmen flood into Spain under the welcoming promise of sunshine and wine. Among them is eighteen-year-old Daniel Matheson, the son of an oil tycoon, who arrives in Madrid with his parents hoping to connect with the country of his mother's birth through the lens of his camera.
Photography—and fate—introduce him to Ana, whose family's interweaving obstacles reveal the lingering grasp of the Spanish Civil War, as well as the chilling realities of fortune and fear. Daniel's photographs leave him with uncomfortable questions amidst shadows of danger. Lives and hearts collide when he's backed into a corner to protect those he loves, revealing an incredibly dark side to the sunny Spanish city.
Master storyteller Ruta Sepetys once again shines light into one of history's darkest corners in this epic, heart-wrenching novel. Featuring vintage media reports, oral history commentary, photos, and more, The Fountains of Silence provides a memorable portrait of the true postwar struggles of Spain.
“Suspenseful, romantic and timely . . . speaks truth to power, persuading future rulers to avoid repeating the crimes of the past."—The New York Times Book Review
Madrid, 1957. Under the fascist dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, Spain is hiding a dark secret. Meanwhile, tourists and foreign businessmen flood into Spain under the welcoming promise of sunshine and wine. Among them is eighteen-year-old Daniel Matheson, the son of an oil tycoon, who arrives in Madrid with his parents hoping to connect with the country of his mother's birth through the lens of his camera.
Photography—and fate—introduce him to Ana, whose family's interweaving obstacles reveal the lingering grasp of the Spanish Civil War, as well as the chilling realities of fortune and fear. Daniel's photographs leave him with uncomfortable questions amidst shadows of danger. Lives and hearts collide when he's backed into a corner to protect those he loves, revealing an incredibly dark side to the sunny Spanish city.
Master storyteller Ruta Sepetys once again shines light into one of history's darkest corners in this epic, heart-wrenching novel. Featuring vintage media reports, oral history commentary, photos, and more, The Fountains of Silence provides a memorable portrait of the true postwar struggles of Spain.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the award-winning author of Salt to the Sea and Between Shades of Gray comes a gripping, extraordinary novel of love, silence, and secrets under a dictatorship in 1950s Spain.
“Suspenseful, romantic and timely . . . speaks truth to power, persuading future rulers...
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Ratings and reviews
16 reviews
Sam Knevitt
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June 29, 2026
I had previously read I Must Betray You, but I was enthralled by the fresh setting and drama of the book. Like many others, I did not know much about Francoist Spain, but I am a history guy and was eager to learn more. I really liked how Ruta Sepetys could weave an element of romance within an otherwise non-romantic book. I don't usually read romance, but I liked how it tied in with the rest of the story. Overall, great book. 10/10
tamrah.
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January 11, 2026
This book was truly endearing to read, and heartfelt at every turn. It had many turns and twists that you never saw coming, which i enjoyed. Will definitely read other books by this author again!
Angie
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October 8, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed Between Shades of Grey and Salt to the Sea. In fact they are two of the novels I most often recommend, so I had high expectations for the latest book by Ruta Sepetys. I'm happy to say it met them. Like those other two books, this one sheds a light on a hidden part of history, but it does so more gradually. Like in Salt to the Sea, there were multiple narrators. I felt they were all necessary for the telling of this story, and I liked them all, though initially I found one less sympathetic than the others. The danger the characters faced here was not as overt as in the other books, but there was a tension, a sense of it lingering in the air. And while I'd describe the other two novels as being about a struggle to survive, I'd describe this one as being about a struggle to live, for what kind of life is it if you can't ask questions or even hope for anything better? I enjoyed this and have already recommended it. I'm thankful for the early read from BookishFirst, and I liked it so much that I've purchased the hardback.
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About the author
Ruta Sepetys (www.rutasepetys.com) is an internationally acclaimed, #1 New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction published in over sixty countries and forty languages. Sepetys is considered a "crossover" novelist, as her books are read by both teens and adults worldwide. Her novels Between Shades of Gray, Out of the Easy, and Salt to the Sea have won or been shortlisted for more than forty book prizes, and are included on more than sixty state award lists. Between Shades of Gray was adapted into the film Ashes in the Snow, and her other novels are currently in development for TV and film. Winner of the Carnegie Medal, Ruta is passionate about the power of history and literature to foster global awareness and connectivity. She has presented to NATO, to the European Parliament, in the United States Capitol, and at embassies worldwide. Ruta was born and raised in Michigan and now lives with her family in Nashville, Tennessee. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @RutaSepetys.
Ruta Sepetys (www.rutasepetys.com) is an internationally acclaimed, #1 New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction published in over sixty countries and forty languages. Sepetys is considered a "crossover" novelist, as her books are read by both teens and adults worldwide. Her novels ...
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