schnauzermum's review against another edition
4.0
Does an attempt to understand an individual imply justification of their behaviour? Enric Marco presented himself as an anti-Franco fighter and survivor of the Nazi concentration camps. His deceptions were revealed by historian Benito Bermejo. In this non-fiction novel, Cercas explores Marco’s motives for his deception, and uses it as a starting point for a reflection on the role of reality and fiction, and the stories we tell about ourselves. In places it is a little repetitive, but I recommend it.
kokeshi8's review against another edition
3.0
Primero que todo, qué pedazo de historia. Qué personaje más interesante el de Enric Marco, muy delirante como dirían por ahí.
Por otro lado, el libro en sí a ratos me resultó pesado. Probablemente porque la historia de España y la vida pública del autor me es extraña y ajena. Fueron los relatos "reales" sobre la vida del supuesto sobreviviente del Holocausto lo que me mantuvo leyendo hasta el final, más que su vida inventada luego de la caída de Franco o el ensayo de Cercas , que nos trata de embolinar la perdiz, queriendo ser como Enric, sin conseguirlo. Porque Enric Marco tiene calle, locura y genio. De lo contrario no sería el tremendo mentiroso que es.
PD: Y que después de publicado el libro Marco declare "Me siento engañado por Cercas", no me queda otra que decir vaya tipo.
Por otro lado, el libro en sí a ratos me resultó pesado. Probablemente porque la historia de España y la vida pública del autor me es extraña y ajena. Fueron los relatos "reales" sobre la vida del supuesto sobreviviente del Holocausto lo que me mantuvo leyendo hasta el final, más que su vida inventada luego de la caída de Franco o el ensayo de Cercas , que nos trata de embolinar la perdiz, queriendo ser como Enric, sin conseguirlo. Porque Enric Marco tiene calle, locura y genio. De lo contrario no sería el tremendo mentiroso que es.
PD: Y que después de publicado el libro Marco declare "Me siento engañado por Cercas", no me queda otra que decir vaya tipo.
mariog17's review against another edition
5.0
El impostor, de Javier Cercas, es un libro que me recomendó un amigo lector y que, tratándose de una ‘novela sin ficción o relato real’ y de Javier Cercas, pues no dudé ni un instante y lo devoré en cuanto tuve oportunidad. Ya me deleitó este autor con Soldados de Salamina (de mis diez libros favoritos) y Anatomía de un instante, aunque me desencantó un poco en El móvil. Y en este libro también me deleitó, un libro que dice el autor que es ‘novela’, pero carente de ficción, porque la ficción ya la pone el protagonista.
Enric Marco fue un barcelonés que existió de verdad y que decía ser superviviente del Holocausto nazi, llegando a presidir una asociación de supervivientes del mismo durante tres años. ¿Cuál es el problem? Que Marco nunca estuvo en un campo de concentración nazi. De desenmascararlo se encargó un historiador llamado Benito Bermejo, y Cercas en este libro nos narra toda su historia, y no solo eso, sino que profundiza en por qué Marco también mintió tan despiadadamente en otros aspectos de su vida.
A lo largo del libro es impresionante la capacidad de profundización narrativa de Cercas, porque nos va relatando que Marco sí estuvo en Alemania, pero como trabajador voluntario en un acuerdo entre Hitler y Franco de aquella época, y sí es verdad que estuvo en una cárcel alemana, pero no en un campo de concentración. Marco siempre se las daba también de ser un héroe, de ser un resistente del fascismo y el franquismo valiente. Sin embargo, Cercas duda y muchas veces desmiente bastantes cosas que decía Marco como, por ejemplo, que fue herido por un obús en la Guerra Civil, algo que parece ser falso y que solo lo inventó para colgarse medallas metafóricas.
Aunque también se colgó medallas no tan metafóricas cuando recibió la Creu de Sant Jordi, la mayor distinción de Cataluña, según tengo entendido. Y lo recibió porque se creyeron su mentira… Hay tantas cosas ocultas en su vida y otras inventadas que a veces resulta difícil distinguir. Lo que está claro es que Marco padecía una aguda mediopatía y un cuasi-narcisismo, en definitiva una obsesión por ser admirado, por ser considerado un héroe por todos, por salir en las fotos y en los medios.
Es por esto que Cercas dibuja senderos donde parece haber luz y no tanta oscura mentira para comparar a Marco con don Quijote, otro que borró su pasado para inventarse una nueva personalidad. Este libro es espléndido, es otra obra maestra más de Cercas que me he visto obligado a puntuar en Goodreads con la máxima puntuación (5 estrellas). Sin duda uno de mis escritores de no-ficción favoritos.
Enric Marco fue un barcelonés que existió de verdad y que decía ser superviviente del Holocausto nazi, llegando a presidir una asociación de supervivientes del mismo durante tres años. ¿Cuál es el problem? Que Marco nunca estuvo en un campo de concentración nazi. De desenmascararlo se encargó un historiador llamado Benito Bermejo, y Cercas en este libro nos narra toda su historia, y no solo eso, sino que profundiza en por qué Marco también mintió tan despiadadamente en otros aspectos de su vida.
A lo largo del libro es impresionante la capacidad de profundización narrativa de Cercas, porque nos va relatando que Marco sí estuvo en Alemania, pero como trabajador voluntario en un acuerdo entre Hitler y Franco de aquella época, y sí es verdad que estuvo en una cárcel alemana, pero no en un campo de concentración. Marco siempre se las daba también de ser un héroe, de ser un resistente del fascismo y el franquismo valiente. Sin embargo, Cercas duda y muchas veces desmiente bastantes cosas que decía Marco como, por ejemplo, que fue herido por un obús en la Guerra Civil, algo que parece ser falso y que solo lo inventó para colgarse medallas metafóricas.
Aunque también se colgó medallas no tan metafóricas cuando recibió la Creu de Sant Jordi, la mayor distinción de Cataluña, según tengo entendido. Y lo recibió porque se creyeron su mentira… Hay tantas cosas ocultas en su vida y otras inventadas que a veces resulta difícil distinguir. Lo que está claro es que Marco padecía una aguda mediopatía y un cuasi-narcisismo, en definitiva una obsesión por ser admirado, por ser considerado un héroe por todos, por salir en las fotos y en los medios.
Es por esto que Cercas dibuja senderos donde parece haber luz y no tanta oscura mentira para comparar a Marco con don Quijote, otro que borró su pasado para inventarse una nueva personalidad. Este libro es espléndido, es otra obra maestra más de Cercas que me he visto obligado a puntuar en Goodreads con la máxima puntuación (5 estrellas). Sin duda uno de mis escritores de no-ficción favoritos.
withonestone's review against another edition
2.0
Altogether, the book would have been more enjoyable if it had focused on the titular impostor rather than the author's meta-fiction musings. The story of the impostor is rich enough, sad enough, real enough that we don't need the self-aggrandizing chapters that come in between.
barrettcmyk's review against another edition
This is the true story of Enric Marco. Head of an organization dedicated to preserving the memory of Spanish survivors of the Nazi concentration camps, Marco has toured the world talking about his life in captivity.
Only problem is, Marco was never in any concentration camp. After decades, his story was revealed to be complete fabrication.
Regrettably, this wasn't nearly as interesting as I (or the rest of my book club) had hoped. This particular book isn't the actual exposé on Marco, but more the chronicle of a man trying to understand why one of his national heroes would do such a thing. The book then is a winding assembly of why Cercas wanted to write the book, his interviews with Marco, his research, and his thoughts throughout. Personally I think it would've made for an excellent long form journalism piece...but perhaps if you're really into history or true crime, this will churn your butter.
Only problem is, Marco was never in any concentration camp. After decades, his story was revealed to be complete fabrication.
Regrettably, this wasn't nearly as interesting as I (or the rest of my book club) had hoped. This particular book isn't the actual exposé on Marco, but more the chronicle of a man trying to understand why one of his national heroes would do such a thing. The book then is a winding assembly of why Cercas wanted to write the book, his interviews with Marco, his research, and his thoughts throughout. Personally I think it would've made for an excellent long form journalism piece...but perhaps if you're really into history or true crime, this will churn your butter.
carlosperezzz's review against another edition
4.0
Sin lugar a dudas una historia muy interesante, pero creo que Javier Cercas la ha estirado demasiado en este libro, haciendo muchos pasajes repetitivos tanto en lo que cuenta como en el propio lenguaje.
extraspecialbitter's review against another edition
5.0
Javier Cercas is a master of the non-fiction novel. As in past books like "The Lord of all the Dead", the in-depth history of the deception of the main character is interlaced with the author's misgivings about writing the book, reaching a climax in an imagined dialogue with the protagonist. The why behind the lies is never fully fleshed out, leaving the distinction between truth and fiction as a continuing exercise for the reader.
harimau_belang's review against another edition
5.0
A week after the official start of the Indonesian presidential campaign, news broke that supporters of the incumbent allegedly assaulted one of the opposition’s spokesperson. While the public was still questioning the verity of this allegation, the opposition side held an unexpected public conference. Led by the candidate himself, the campaign team affirmed the accusation and vehemently criticized the government for allowing the assault. They even published the photographs of the bruised spokesperson. The news pulled the nation’s attention. Controversies ablaze, verdicts issued, and conspiracy theories were thrown around.
Strangely, the voice of reason that took credence came not from the realm of law or politic. It was from the field of cosmetic surgery that the truth unfolded. A cosmetic doctor analyzed the pictures, allegedly the evidence of the assault, and concluded that the injuries and swellings were not from a physical attack, but rather from cosmetic surgery. He cited the symmetry of the bruises and their similarities with the typical effects of a facelift or similar operations. A further investigation supported this theory. The police did not find any evidence that the spokesperson was admitted to a hospital in the area, contrary to the spokesperson’s account. Pictures of the spokesperson being treated in a place resembling a beauty clinic emerged. Confusion reigned. But increasingly, the “the spokesperson was lying” side gained more followers. Ultimately, both parties demanded the truth and pressed the spokesperson to hold her silence no more.
The rest, as they say, is history. The spokesperson’s name is Ratna Sarumpaet, a former human rights activist in the 90s. In a dramatic confession, she ultimately refuted the assault allegation. She confessed to having cosmetic surgery, the aftermath of which she disguised as the result from an attack. Maybe because of shame, possibly to avert disapproval, who knows, she hid the surgery from her family’s knowledge, thus sparking the rumor and, probably the most prominent political drama of that year. For almost two weeks, she had deceived the nation of 250 million people — a great impostor.
It is probably a divine providence that in the period this incident happened I was also reading this excellent book. The novel is about another, even greater impostor, Enric Marco, who fooled people from Spain and abroad to believe that he was involved in an anti-Franco and anti-Nazi resistance, as well as a victim of the Nazi concentration camp of Mauthausen.
Throughout the novel, Cercas examines the life of Enric Marco. He charts Marco’s life from birth to the present. Exposing the parts that are blatant lies, providing theories and pieces of evidence that might explain the truth. One of the qualities of this book is that the extraordinary life journey Marco claims for himself and the more likely version both explain Spain’s history and how its people confront the bleak history of the nation and the continent.
In the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, which cost dearly for both sides, the Spanish population more or less accepted the authority of Franco. People from the losing side buried their identities, and only rarely they form a resistance. At that time a great war was engulfing Europe, claiming most of the nation’s attention. Franco managed to navigate a delicate balance during the war, not committing much to either side and led Spain relatively unscathed after World War II. During his reign, Spain also saw significant economic growth and stability.
However, Franco Spain is still a dictatorship. There were killings and kidnappings. Oppression on the free press. The dictatorship used civil and military apparatuses to maintain authority. Some people were behind this oppression because there was no other choice. Some willingly joined. After 40 years, the dictatorship died with Franco’s death. Miraculously, Spain transitioned peacefully into democracy shortly afterward. Some historians believed that the peaceful transition is possible because of restraint from both sides. The pro-Franco faction restrained from seizing power (which would have faced a massive opposition) and the anti-Franco restrained from heavily persecuting people who enabled the dictatorship.
For the Spanish population, the period after Franco was the time for reinvention. People involved in the dictatorship started to tailor another history for themselves, distancing themselves from Franco. This is the moment that Enric Marco used to slip his self-mythology. Cercas posits that at that point a majority of the population felt ashamed of themselves for complicity and more likely to revere a hero figure that maintained clandestine resistance.
Moreover, the novel explains, that Marco’s deception was facilitated further by the authority (underline “author”) of the victim and witness. People (arguably as it should) do not dare to question the victim. We are also less likely to undermine accounts of which we know little. This double blackmail Marco used effectively to his advantage.
Another quality that I like about this book is the philosophical ramifications of fiction, retelling, and authorship that the book explores engagingly. The book, for example, poses the question: if we understand Marco, would that entail that we identify with him, however temporarily, and through identification, does it mean that we, even for the minutest moment, lower our resistance towards evil? This novel provides convincing arguments for both sides, even if Cercas chooses one side over the other.
While the book is heavy (literally and figuratively), the chapters fly by without significant obstacle. Even the essayistic parts of the novel are digestible and engaging. It is a magnificent feat that Cercas could unmask Enric Marco in fiction without a lie.
Ratna Sarumpaet and Enric Marco are both an impostor at certain points in their lives. As to what enables their fiction, readers could glean from this masterful novel. Reading this book is like diagnosing ourselves on why we are easily susceptible to hoaxes and fake news. A timely read in this election year.
With the mastery of a true storyteller, Javier Cercas unmasks the fiction of Enric Marco and deliberates the nature of self-mythology, authorship, retelling, and the role of art in this post-truth world.
Strangely, the voice of reason that took credence came not from the realm of law or politic. It was from the field of cosmetic surgery that the truth unfolded. A cosmetic doctor analyzed the pictures, allegedly the evidence of the assault, and concluded that the injuries and swellings were not from a physical attack, but rather from cosmetic surgery. He cited the symmetry of the bruises and their similarities with the typical effects of a facelift or similar operations. A further investigation supported this theory. The police did not find any evidence that the spokesperson was admitted to a hospital in the area, contrary to the spokesperson’s account. Pictures of the spokesperson being treated in a place resembling a beauty clinic emerged. Confusion reigned. But increasingly, the “the spokesperson was lying” side gained more followers. Ultimately, both parties demanded the truth and pressed the spokesperson to hold her silence no more.
The rest, as they say, is history. The spokesperson’s name is Ratna Sarumpaet, a former human rights activist in the 90s. In a dramatic confession, she ultimately refuted the assault allegation. She confessed to having cosmetic surgery, the aftermath of which she disguised as the result from an attack. Maybe because of shame, possibly to avert disapproval, who knows, she hid the surgery from her family’s knowledge, thus sparking the rumor and, probably the most prominent political drama of that year. For almost two weeks, she had deceived the nation of 250 million people — a great impostor.
It is probably a divine providence that in the period this incident happened I was also reading this excellent book. The novel is about another, even greater impostor, Enric Marco, who fooled people from Spain and abroad to believe that he was involved in an anti-Franco and anti-Nazi resistance, as well as a victim of the Nazi concentration camp of Mauthausen.
Throughout the novel, Cercas examines the life of Enric Marco. He charts Marco’s life from birth to the present. Exposing the parts that are blatant lies, providing theories and pieces of evidence that might explain the truth. One of the qualities of this book is that the extraordinary life journey Marco claims for himself and the more likely version both explain Spain’s history and how its people confront the bleak history of the nation and the continent.
In the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, which cost dearly for both sides, the Spanish population more or less accepted the authority of Franco. People from the losing side buried their identities, and only rarely they form a resistance. At that time a great war was engulfing Europe, claiming most of the nation’s attention. Franco managed to navigate a delicate balance during the war, not committing much to either side and led Spain relatively unscathed after World War II. During his reign, Spain also saw significant economic growth and stability.
However, Franco Spain is still a dictatorship. There were killings and kidnappings. Oppression on the free press. The dictatorship used civil and military apparatuses to maintain authority. Some people were behind this oppression because there was no other choice. Some willingly joined. After 40 years, the dictatorship died with Franco’s death. Miraculously, Spain transitioned peacefully into democracy shortly afterward. Some historians believed that the peaceful transition is possible because of restraint from both sides. The pro-Franco faction restrained from seizing power (which would have faced a massive opposition) and the anti-Franco restrained from heavily persecuting people who enabled the dictatorship.
For the Spanish population, the period after Franco was the time for reinvention. People involved in the dictatorship started to tailor another history for themselves, distancing themselves from Franco. This is the moment that Enric Marco used to slip his self-mythology. Cercas posits that at that point a majority of the population felt ashamed of themselves for complicity and more likely to revere a hero figure that maintained clandestine resistance.
Moreover, the novel explains, that Marco’s deception was facilitated further by the authority (underline “author”) of the victim and witness. People (arguably as it should) do not dare to question the victim. We are also less likely to undermine accounts of which we know little. This double blackmail Marco used effectively to his advantage.
Another quality that I like about this book is the philosophical ramifications of fiction, retelling, and authorship that the book explores engagingly. The book, for example, poses the question: if we understand Marco, would that entail that we identify with him, however temporarily, and through identification, does it mean that we, even for the minutest moment, lower our resistance towards evil? This novel provides convincing arguments for both sides, even if Cercas chooses one side over the other.
While the book is heavy (literally and figuratively), the chapters fly by without significant obstacle. Even the essayistic parts of the novel are digestible and engaging. It is a magnificent feat that Cercas could unmask Enric Marco in fiction without a lie.
Ratna Sarumpaet and Enric Marco are both an impostor at certain points in their lives. As to what enables their fiction, readers could glean from this masterful novel. Reading this book is like diagnosing ourselves on why we are easily susceptible to hoaxes and fake news. A timely read in this election year.
With the mastery of a true storyteller, Javier Cercas unmasks the fiction of Enric Marco and deliberates the nature of self-mythology, authorship, retelling, and the role of art in this post-truth world.