The City of Marvels

In the best tradition of the picaresque novel and with echoes of Gangs of New York, this story chronicles the rise of the despicable Onofre Bouvila, an unscrupulously ambitious mafioso who starts in the gutters of Barcelona and leaves a trail of broken egos as he searches for his place in the sun

Onofre Bouvila, a young man abandoned to poverty and misery by his fortune-seeking father, arrives in Barcelona on the eve of the Universal Exposition of 1888, fueled by dreams of wealth and power. There, he meets Delfina, the daughter of the hotel owner where he is staying, and immediately falls in love with her.

Their relationship quickly ignites into a whirlwind affair. Amidst his desperation to find work in a city plagued by violence, crime, and poverty, Onofre takes a daring step. With Delfina’s encouragement, he begins producing and distributing anarchist pamphlets, championing a cause she fervently supports. However, police repression soon forces Onofre to abandon political activism.
He then returns to his original ambition of seeking fortune—a path that clashes with Delfina’s values. Engaging in various illicit activities, from arms smuggling to real estate speculation, Onofre climbs the social and economic ladder with ruthless cunning.

This story vividly portrays the transformation of Barcelona from a provincial city to a bustling metropolis, highlighting the contrasts between wealth and poverty, progress and corruption. Through Onofre’s eyes, readers witness the vibrant and turbulent history of the city, marked by political upheaval, social change, and the relentless drive of capitalism.