“1556… Spain, a nascent empire, finds itself at a historical crossroads. It is almost seven decades since Granada fell. Now unified under the Catholic crown, the nation struggles to consolidate its identity due to a lack of religious and cultural homogenization. In this context, the Moriscos, descendants of Muslims forcibly converted to Christianity, face increasing pressure. These new Christians remain suspect in the eyes of the authorities, leading to latent tensions and conflicts. The distrust and hostility towards the Moriscos are fuelled by persistent cultural differences and the fear of loyalty to the Ottoman and North African Muslim powers. Spain has become a burgeoning colonial power, extending its influence in America, Africa, and Asia. This quest for territorial expansion is accompanied by a mission to spread Christianity, creating a vast empire where, as the saying goes, the sun never sets. In this bustling world we encounter Khalíl and Dídac. Their personal story is the result of the tensions and challenges of the time. Khalíl, as a Morisco, represents the struggle for the preservation of cultural identity in a society striving to erase its Muslim past. Dídac, on the other hand, embodies the complexity of Spanish identities of the time, torn between ancestral traditions and the new era of the Catholic monarchy. The setting of “The Last Morisco” is established, immersing us in the depths of this pivotal period in Spanish history. The narrative not only describes the consequences of the fall of the Kingdom of Granada but also paints a portrait of a society in full transformation, marked by religious and cultural conflicts that redefine the contours of a nation. The reader is thus invited to explore the complexities of 16th-century Spain, a time when the future of an empire and its inhabitants is being shaped. It’s a journey through the shadows and lights of a period rich in upheavals… a crucial chapter in European and global history.”

Nothing predestined me to be a writer!

A child of emigration, I was born in a cold and rainy country that wasn’t mine. I grew up in a humble family, warmed by maternal love and guided by solid rural values. We didn’t have a television, and as a child, I spent my leisure hours devouring second-hand TBOs, or comics as they are called now. I wasn’t interested in literature; I just sought to escape boredom with colourful panels and the adventures of heroes.

In adolescence, in addition to the classic teenage acne, I caught a feverish passion for motorcycles. If asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would answer without a moment’s hesitation: a mechanic!

After leaving my native France, life went on. I graduated in Industrial Technical Engineering in Barcelona and ended up working for a multinational automobile company. My profession gave me the opportunity to live in six different countries and learn about cultures different from my own. As I matured, I felt an increasingly urgent need to reconnect with my roots.

This is how this novel was conceived.

During the laborious research on my ancestors, I stumbled upon a terrible event. A story so fascinating that it awakened in me an overwhelming desire to tell it.

Unlike those who write novels because it is their profession, I became a writer to tell this epic.

In this unique work, I have poured the essence of my life experience. In each character, I leave memories, some traits of my personality, fragments of my beliefs, and values.