El secreto de Marcial. Premio Nadal 2025 (Novela) / Marcial’s Secret. 2025 Nadal Prize (A Novel)
PREMIO NADAL 2025
La crítica se rinde unánime:
«He leído la excelente novela de la que mi viejo amigo me estuvo hablando mucho tiempo antes de animarse a escribirla. Desafío superado por todo lo alto.» Arturo Pérez-Reverte
«Un libro excelente. Alguien que comprende quién fue su padre a ras de suelo (…) difícilmente caerá en la seducción del resentimiento.» Sergio del Molino, El País
«“Somos lo que vimos”. El lector asiente ante tal afirmación deslizada casi al final de esta soberbia novela, una de las mejores que he leído en los últimos años.» Pozuelo Yvancos, ABC Cultural
«Una experiencia narrativa maravillosa.» Ángel Peña, The Objective
«Todo encaja y el silencio, la trivialidad y las incógnitas que envuelven al padre obtienen para el autor —y para el lector— su satisfacción, aunque esta no pertenezca al reino solar de las certezas, sino a las tierras de penumbra de la ambigüedad de la mejor literatura.» Domingo Ródenas, Babelia
«Una excelente novela.» Jesús Ferrer, La Razón
«¡Qué novela maravillosa ha escrito Jorge Fernández Díaz! Una historia íntima donde los secretos familiares permiten viajar al corazón de una época. Secretos del corazón...» Jesús García Calero, ABC
«Fernández Díaz es un buenísimo escritor. Y esta es una novela preciosa. El autor se da cuenta de que no se puede contar el padre con los recuerdos ni con el periodismo de investigación, que solo se puede hacer con la novela. Que es maravillosa, una delicadeza. Yo creo que el Premio Nadal sigue por buen camino.» Benjamín Prado, la SER
«Acabo de terminarla. Solo diré una cosa: es una obra maestra.» Moisés Rodríguez, Canal 24 HORAS
«Fernández Díaz filma con este libro una gran película con palabras y una magnífica novela de imágenes imborrables.» Tino Pertierra, La Nueva España
«Una novela impecable que bien vale un Nadal. Hínquenle el diente sin dudarlo.» Jesús F. Úbeda, Artículo 14
ENGLISH DESCRIPTION
NADAL PRIZE 2025
Unanimous praise from critics:
“I’ve read the excellent novel my old friend spoke about for so long before daring to write it. Challenge brilliantly overcome.” Arturo Pérez-Reverte
“An outstanding book. Someone who understands who his father was at ground level (…) is unlikely to fall into the trap of resentment.” Sergio del Molino, El País
“‘We are what we saw.’ Readers will nod at this statement, slipped in near the end of this superb novel—one of the best I’ve read in recent years.” Pozuelo Yvancos, ABC Cultural
“A wonderful narrative experience.” Ángel Peña, The Objective
“Everything fits: the silence, the triviality, and the mysteries surrounding the father bring satisfaction to both author and reader—even if it belongs not to the realm of certainty, but to the shadowlands of ambiguity found in great literature.” Domingo Ródenas, Babelia
“An excellent novel.” Jesús Ferrer, La Razón
“What a marvelous novel Jorge Fernández Díaz has written! An intimate story where family secrets lead us to the heart of an era. Secrets of the heart...” Jesús García Calero, ABC
“Fernández Díaz is a superb writer. And this is a beautiful novel. He realizes that a father cannot be portrayed through memories or investigative journalism—only through fiction. It’s wonderful, delicate. I believe the Nadal Prize is on the right track.” Benjamín Prado, la SER
“Just finished it. I’ll say only one thing: it’s a masterpiece.” Moisés Rodríguez, Canal 24 HORAS
“With this book, Fernández Díaz shoots a great film in words and a magnificent novel of unforgettable images.” Tino Pertierra, La Nueva España
“A flawless novel that truly deserves a Nadal. Sink your teeth into it without hesitation.” Jesús F. Úbeda, Artículo 14
There’s only one mother. But every father is an enigma. And every child needs to solve it.
A writer, part of the Spanish community in Buenos Aires, tries to uncover the true personality of his father years after his death. Marcial Fernández, an Asturian immigrant, like many men of his generation, struggled to communicate with his son—punishing him with years of silence and disapproval upon discovering his literary passion. The only bond between them was the classic Hollywood films they watched together, a sentimental education full of subtleties and misunderstandings that Marcial imparted indirectly. As the narrator reconstructs his father’s story, he finds clues suggesting Marcial led a secret life—and becomes obsessed with uncovering it.
A profoundly beautiful and painful novel, written with great narrative skill and touches of suspense. It not only pays tribute to the Spanish migrants and the films that shaped our identities, but also delves into the deepest family mysteries and the often thorny relationship between loving fathers and sons.
