The Cemetery of Forgotten Books, #2
The Angel's Game
by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Contents
Act One - City of the Damned — Chapter 18
Overview
David reels from his novel’s failure and finds brief solace with Sempere, who enshrines his book. His publishers threaten legal action to force more pulp under a pseudonym. Over lunch, Vidal reveals David’s father died in a botched hit meant for Vidal and announces his engagement to Cristina. Seeking his mother, David anonymously gifts her his book, only to watch her discard it, deepening his isolation.
Summary
David wanders Barcelona in despair after his book’s failure, then stops at Sempere & Sons. Señor Sempere draws him inside, offers strong drink, confirms he suspects David wrote Vidal’s hit, and asks for a signed copy of The Steps of Heaven. He places it in his private display, honoring David’s work despite the reviews.
The next morning, Pep delivers Vidal’s lunch summons, now distant and formal. Soon after, David’s publishers, Barrido and Escobillas, arrive with a lawyer to threaten a lawsuit unless David resumes writing City of the Damned as Ignatius B. Samson within six weeks. They refuse to revert rights and even offer to sell him unsold copies at a discount. David throws them out, blurting a chilling threat without knowing why.
At La Maison Dorée, Vidal accepts congratulations for his success while telling David he brought a copy of David’s book for Cristina to sign. Vidal lectures David about refusing to play the city’s social-political game. Then Vidal confesses that the gunmen who killed David’s father were actually targeting Vidal over an affair; David’s father died by mistake. Vidal adds that he has proposed to Cristina, and she accepted. David leaves, taking his book from the table.
That afternoon, David goes to El Indio hoping to see his mother. He watches her at work and cannot approach. After closing, he pays a street boy to deliver the wrapped copy of his novel to her anonymously. David observes from a distance as she hesitantly accepts it, examines it, then drops it into a waste bin and walks away, severing the fragile hope of reconnection.
Who Appears
- David MartínProtagonist; endures public failure, rejects publishers’ threats, learns his father’s death targeted Vidal, and suffers his mother’s rejection.
- Señor SempereBookseller who comforts David and honors his novel by placing a signed copy in his private showcase.
- Pedro VidalMentor-turned-beneficiary; lectures David, reveals the hit meant for him killed David’s father, and announces engagement to Cristina.
- BarridoPublisher who threatens legal action to force more pulp output and refuses rights reversion.
- EscobillasPublisher who joins in legal threats and offers to sell David his unsold books at a discount.
- PepVidal’s new chauffeur; delivers the lunch summons, now distant toward David.
- Lawyer (unnamed)Represents the publishers; outlines lawsuit threat and contract obligations.
- David’s motherWorks at El Indio; unknowingly receives David’s book and discards it, rejecting contact.
- Shop assistant at El IndioAnnoyed clerk who approaches David while he watches his mother at work.
- Street boy messengerDelivers David’s wrapped book to his mother after closing time.