Treasure Mountain
The captivating story of an altar boy from the Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey during the Spanish Civil War.
Benet, an eleven-year-old orphan, sings in the Montserrat boys' choir. When the Spanish Civil War breaks out in July of 1936, the monks and the rest of the choir must leave the mountain, but Benet is among the few who stay, with nowhere else to go. Carles Gerhard, appointed commissioner of Montserrat, moves in with his family and takes in Benet as one of their own. The Government of Catalonia seizes the abbey to prevent it from being burned, converting it into a hospital, printing press, cultural center, and refuge.
As the war progresses, Benet becomes a witness to numerous stories within the abbey: from the activities of Dr. Josep Trueta and the soldier-poet Manuel Altolaguirre to the secret movements of Brother Areso, who is a Falangist spy. With the help of Brother Cervera, the oldest monk, Benet begins to understand the events around him, while his own story of growth, adventures, love, and discoveries unfolds.
Treasure Mountain by Martí Gironell brings us closer to a lesser-known but vital chapter of the history of Catalonia, showing how Montserrat became a refuge for the survival of one of Catalonia's most cherished symbols.
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Original Language
CATALAN | Columna
Translation Rights
SPANISH | Destino
Reviews
"Gironell masterfully manages various narrative threads with a strong storytelling pulse, abundant dialogue, and an engaging pace that keeps the reader captivated throughout the entire novel." Lluís Llort, El Punt Avui
"Through real and fictional characters, the novel recounts how the Montserrat Monastery survived the Civil War. It was considered a "reference point," the author asserts, for both sides, symbolizing both faith and Catalan identity." Alba Carmona, Diari de Girona
