Count Julian by Juan Goytisolo

"Count Julian" is a novel that explores the themes of betrayal, revenge, and cultural identity. The protagonist, an exiled Spaniard, reflects on the history of his homeland, Spain, and its past conquests and losses. He identifies with Count Julian, a historical figure who invited the Moors to invade Spain as an act of revenge against the Visigothic King Roderic. The narrative is a critique of Spanish nationalism and cultural identity, as the protagonist dreams of a new invasion to cleanse Spain of its past and present sins. The book's complex narrative structure, nonlinear timeline, and poetic language make it a challenging but rewarding read.

The 3703rd greatest book of all time


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Total Points: 102

Since this book was first published in 1970, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 102.0.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.