Novel
The House of Whispers
This novel is a love story. Love stories are as old as literature itself, because the love of novels remains a powerful spell.
In “The House of Whispers” we follow in the footsteps of Francesca, a woman trapped in the routine of her life in Buenos Aires, until an unexpected trip to Italy brings her face to face with a great discovery: a lavish villa, and along with the inheritance, love, and along with love, a family mystery.
Because this is a novel, but it is also the story of a family, told with the same devotion and care with which one dusts off an ancient photo album.
“And finally, of course, we will say that Fabiana Galcerán’s novel is also a novel about time: historical time, that of the first war, which broke out with fury across Europe, but above all evoked time, the kind that calls to us and summons us with its echo: it whispers to us.” — Mariano Ducros
A note from Fabiana
I hope you enjoy “The House of Whispers.”
This novel is very dear to me, since it is based on the story my grandmother used to tell, one I never tired of hearing: how she and her family were trapped in Santa Margherita Ligure in 1914 by the outbreak of the First World War. What began as a holiday to visit relatives and friends turned into four years of waiting, in the hope that the war would be short, as was predicted at the time.
News of torpedoed passenger ships was frequent. Unrestricted submarine warfare would at first affect the coasts of Italy, England, France and much of the Mediterranean.
But this novel is not a war story; it is much more: Two women, two destinies, one unexpected connection. Separated by decades and by contrasting personalities, they share an unbreakable bond. Francesca, a journalist tied to a safe and monotonous life, struggles against her fears and the dissatisfaction that colors her existence.
Chiara, on the other hand, brave and determined, finds herself in the Italy of 1914, facing the maelstrom of the First World War in a picturesque fishing village. Her fearless spirit clashes with “il commendatore,” a sinister figure who holds power in the town.
Across these pages, both women are swept up in a whirlwind of passions, struggles and difficult choices. Love intertwines with the fight for freedom and the determination to forge a destiny of one’s own.
This story immerses us in an emotional journey in which the dilemma of choosing between security and courage becomes a guiding thread. How do we make decisions when the heart is torn between two worlds? This tale invites us to reflect on courage, love and determination in times of uncertainty. — Fabiana
Where to get it
The Spanish edition is also available from Tematika (Yenny — El Ateneo) and at your favorite bookstore.