Javier Cercas

In February 1981, just as Spain was finally leaving Franco’s dictatorship and during the first democratic vote in parliament for a new prime minister, Colonel Tejero and a band of right-wing soldiers burst into the Spanish parliament and began firing shots. Only three members of Congress defied the incursion and did not dive for cover. The pre-eminent Spanish novelist discusses the relationship between history and fiction. Chaired by Jon Gower.