The Shadow of the Wind cover art

The Shadow of the Wind

The Cemetery of Forgotten Series, Book 1

Preview

Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Shadow of the Wind

By: Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Narrated by: Daniel Weyman
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $33.99

Buy Now for $33.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.
Cancel

About this listen

Hidden in the heart of the old city of Barcelona is the 'cemetery of lost books', a labyrinthine library of obscure and forgotten titles that have long gone out of print. To this library, a man brings his 10-year-old son, Daniel, one cold morning in 1945. Daniel is allowed to choose one book from the shelves and pulls out La Sombra del Viento by Julian Carax.

But as he grows up, several people seem inordinately interested in his find. Then, one night, as he is wandering the old streets once more, Daniel is approached by a figure who reminds him of a character from La Sombra del Viento, a character who turns out to be the devil. This man is tracking down every last copy of Carax's work in order to burn them. What begins as a case of literary curiosity turns into a race to find out the truth behind the life and death of Julian Carax and to save those he left behind. An exciting exploration of obsession in literature and love and the places that obsession can lead.

©2011 Carlos Ruiz Zafon (P)2011 Orion Publishing Group Limited
Action & Adventure Coming of Age Fantasy Fiction Literary Fiction Magical Realism United States

Critic Reviews

A magical tale (Cecilia Ahern)

What listeners say about The Shadow of the Wind

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    177
  • 4 Stars
    56
  • 3 Stars
    20
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    6
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    177
  • 4 Stars
    45
  • 3 Stars
    12
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    162
  • 4 Stars
    43
  • 3 Stars
    17
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    7

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

fantastic immersive reading

I loved listening to this audio. I found myself caught up in the story, and completely enjoyed the audiobook experience. I loved the description of Barcelona and look forward to visiting the city after this experience.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Gorgeously Unique and Intense

I was captured by this epic book, as much by the complex characters and story as the atmospheres of mid 20th century Barcelona and Paris.

The story is intense and affecting - I was entirely swept up.

Incredible narrative performance also.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Beautifully written

A richly woven story in the complex city of Barcelona. A grimly mysterious tale of lost books and lost love. Great performance by the narrator, although someone with greater fluency in Spanish would add more to the overall tone.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Spellbinding Storytelling

I loved this book from the outset. The story is so beautifully woven. The narration is perfect. One of the best books I have ever read/listened to ☺️

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great rambling yarn, super writing. You are there!

Great rambling yarn, super writing. You are there! in the thick of the Spanish civil war living the lives of real people.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing book just a problem that Audible are bad

Audible is shit!
l have brain cancer and can't read books like i use to live to do it. Audible have all but one of the books I want to listen to - the last Carlos Ruiz Zafon with English in Australia. At the moment my brain cancer will likely take me to the grave before i can hear this book in Australia. Yep, Audible and Amazon are the worst company in the world.

Carlos Ruiz Zafons - The Shadow of the Wind
This book is beyond great. The depth, the story, depth, and the feeling when you re-read this book always make me love it more and more again.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Captivating

Fantastic story and well told. It made my 14 hour drive pass like it barely happened. I got out of the car wondering where I was.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

an excellent story

i loved this story
i would definitely recommend it to other readers
thanks so much
look forward to reading more by the same author

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fabulous story

this is one of the best books I have ever read excellent characters excellent story fabulous descriptions of Barcelona an absolute treat from start to finish

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Superb Characters

This one has topped the list of my all time faves. What a journey, I can’t wait to follow the tale.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.