Carlos Ruiz Zafon Books In Order

Publication Order of Cemetery Of Forgotten Books

Publication Order of Niebla Books

Publication Order of Carlos Ruiz Zafón Standalone Novels

A Spanish author, the writer Carlos Ruiz Zafon was a highly prolific novelist within his field, with his talent and skill as a producer of numerous young adult books dating back to the early nineties, as he was a leading figure within the industry, respected by both his peers and his contemporaries. Bringing noir and crime to the genre, he is able to craft a tightly woven and complex narrative, whilst not forgoing character, something to which his many legions of fans can attest to. No stranger to adult fiction either, he has also written a number of works in this particular field too, again gaining a wide variety of readers worldwide.

He passed away on June 19th, 2020.

Early and Personal Life

Born on the 25th of September, 1964, the writer Carlos Ruiz Zafon was brought in the city of Barcelona in Spain, where he grew up, leading to him becoming a resolutely Spanish writer, immersed in the culture of his county, something which was to be a major influence on his writing career to follow. Setting a lot of novels in the city, it is easy to see how much of an impact his upbringing made upon him and his work. Building the style and the tone of what was to come, he would take in inspiration from the world around him, building his characters and plots in the process.

His work wasn’t just going to stay within the confines of Spain though, as his novels reached far and wide, with his books quickly being translated into over forty different languages, leaving him to increase his appeal on an unprecedented international scale. The awards he has received over time have also reflected this as well, with his material being taken to epic lengths, as he attempts to recreate the tomes of his own favorite authors. Combining a number of different genres, as he bends the rules to fit his own means, he has gone on to create something entirely new and interesting.

Living in-between Barcelona, Spain and Los Angeles in California, America, he divides his time and his work, taking on a busy and demanding schedule, all the while continuing to write his books that maintain their ever growing appeal. Always on the look-out for new ideas, he has come to be respected by both his peers and his contemporaries, reaching not just a young adult audience, but an adult audience now as well. Bringing together a number of different ideas, he’s well regarded for insight and creativity, combining ideas that many others would previously have never thought possible, leading to him having one of the most distinct voices within the industry.

Carlos Ruiz Zafon has been published in over forty-five different countries and is still going strong. Living between America and Spain, he’s constantly kept busy with his day-to-day schedule, managing a whole variety of different projects. With more to come from him on the horizon, he’s showing no signs of stopping anytime soon, as his career grows from strength-to-strength.

Writing Career

Publishing his first novel in 1993, Carlos Ruiz Zafon arrived on the literary scene with The Prince of Mist, which helped earn him the Edebe prize for his contributions to the young adult genre. It was then in 2001 that he released his first full adult fiction novel under the title The Shadow of the Wind, which would help further his name as an author. He has also released some short stories as well, such as The Rose of Fire in 2012 and Two-Minute Apocalypse in 2015, which allowed him to become more versatile as a writer.

Visualizing his work, he takes a very cinematic approach to his material, as it allows him to see what he is writing in his mind’s eye, giving it a strong sense of imagery. Along with his love of noir fiction, crime and twentieth century classics, it is easy to see why so many have taken to his work in such a big way. There’s plenty more to come from him as an author, with a lot more novels set to be released in the near future, with more and more discovering his work everyday on an unprecedented worldwide scale.

The Prince of Mist

This was the first book from Carlos Ruiz Zafon as an author and the first in the Niebla franchise overall, setting off a series that was to make his name on a global scale. Initially published in 1993 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers it managed to create a strong set of characters, along with a good premise for its many readers. Establishing the style and the tone here, Zafon creates an eerie atmosphere of trepidation and foreboding, all with his now trademarked edge-of-your-seat mystery style he employs so well.

Moving from the city to the coastline, the Carver family come upon a mysterious house where the son of the previous owner, Jacob, is still resident in spirit. Having previously died from drowning, the children Max and Alicia Carver set out to uncover the mystery behind his suspicious death all those years ago. Uncovering a secret they reveal the arrival of the Prince of Mist, a shadow dwelling entity who has come to retrieve a debt made many years ago. Will they be able to uncover the truth in time? What does the debt entail? Just how will they deal with the Prince of Mist?

The Shadow of the Wind

Starting ‘The Cemetery of Forgotten Books’ series, this was the first in a line of popular novels that have run for over three entries so far and counting. Originally this was published in 2001 and was to mark his first full adult novel, as he made a departure away from the young adult books with which he first made his name. Setting up the premise, it was initially brought out through Penguin Books, quickly reaching a worldwide audience in the process, and furthering his appeal.

Set in 1945 just after the Spanish Civil War, it takes place in Barcelona with Daniel mourning the loss of his mother as he works as an antique book dealer. Then he finds a mysterious book by Julian Carax titled ‘The Shadow of the Wind’, which may be the last of its kind as every other book has been systematically destroyed. Setting out on a quest to find the truth behind the book’s disappearance, he uncovers a trail of murder, doomed love and madness behind it all. Can he learn the truth about the author? Why was it destroyed? What is the secret behind ‘The Shadow and the Wind’?

4 Responses to “Carlos Ruiz Zafon”

1. Helen Tedford: 2 years ago

   I just read The Shadow of the Wind. It is packed with nonvisual images of the area and of the people in the story. It is a little long but worth reading. He is an excellent writer. I found this book from a recommendation by another author.

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2. IAN HOLBROOK: 2 years ago

   Just finished The Angel’s Game & really enjoyed the way it was structured & the build to the climax was riveting. I read The Shadow of the Wind 3 years ago & liked that one a lot hence why I read No.2 in the series. I intend to read the remaining 3 shortly & fingers crossed they are just as good.

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3. Mr David Smith: 2 years ago

   I hope that you have gone on to read the subsequent books in the series. Like you, I was recommended by a friend to read The Shadow of the Wind. I had to go on and read The Angel’s Game and the Prisoner of Heaven and the loved the triangular set up of the 3 books, which could have been read in any order. The Labyrinth of the Spirits completed the series beautifully. I have also read the young adult books and sadly reached the day of finishing the final adult book, The City of Mist. Maybe I will see some of the places he wrote about one day…

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4. Irene Watson: 3 years ago

   Just read Shadow of the wind….It was recommended to me by a friend…loved it..his writing was beautiful…its the only thing good about the pandemic that I have opened my eyes up to books again

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