The Cemetery of Forgotten Books, #2
The Angel's Game
by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Contents
Act Two - Lux Aeterna — Chapter 14
Overview
David visits Gustavo Barceló for a readable Bible and hears troubling findings about Éditions de la Lumière. The press closed in 1914, yet supposedly began in 1881; its founder, Andreas Corelli, is reported dead. Barceló recounts a scandal with author Lambert and an office fire. These contradictions deepen David’s unease about Corelli’s identity and intentions.
Summary
David leaves Isabella writing at home and visits Gustavo Barceló’s bookshop to obtain a readable Bible. Barceló welcomes him warmly, orders a legible Torres Amat edition, and invites David for tea and cigars. He then reveals he investigated Éditions de la Lumière in Paris.
Barceló reports the publisher closed in 1914, and its former Boulevard Saint-Germain offices are bricked up and fire-damaged, with only an angel-shaped door knocker intact. Records show the firm began in 1881 under founder Andreas Corelli, a timeline that strikes David as impossible given his recent dealings.
Barceló adds that Corelli retired young to the Luberon and supposedly died from a viper bite; a rival, Père Coligny, even framed the death notice. Coligny also claimed a scandal: author Lambert, bound to Coligny, secretly signed with Corelli to write a religious book, took a large advance due to debts, then allegedly burned his manuscript and himself at the publisher’s offices. Coligny suspected Corelli’s manipulation despite never meeting him.
Barceló cautions that Coligny seemed unbalanced, yet he warned to avoid Corelli—contradicting his claim that Corelli is dead. David accepts the Bible, thanks Barceló, and leaves. As he departs, the conflicting accounts about Corelli and the ruined offices fill David with a cold anxiety and a sense that fate beneath him is quicksand.
Who Appears
- David MartínProtagonist; seeks a readable Bible and learns disturbing, conflicting news about Corelli, leaving him anxious.
- Gustavo BarcelóBookseller who supplies the Bible and shares his Paris investigation into Éditions de la Lumière and Corelli.
- Andreas CorelliPublisher and David’s patron; reported founder (1881) of the press, retired and allegedly died from a viper bite.
- DalmauShop assistant who selects and prepares the legible Torres Amat Bible for David.
- Père ColignyRival publisher; shows Corelli’s death notice, recounts Lambert scandal, and warns to avoid Corelli.
- LambertAuthor in scandal; signed with Corelli, then reportedly burned his manuscript and himself in the publisher’s offices.