Francisco Casavella

Prematurely deceased, Casavella is a cult figure among the Spanish authors of the 21st century.

Barcelona, 1995: Fernando Atienza, an ageing and somewhat comical careerist, is commissioned to write a confidential report about one of those obscure characters who indistinctly frequent the pages of court cases and the society columns of the newspapers. In a context marked by the dissolution of democracy due to political and financial scandals and a series of small and large concessions, Atienza prepares to review the history of his city and his country. But also his own life. 

First published in three volumes between 2002 and 2003, El día del Watusi marked the consecration of Francisco Casavella as one of the finest literary talents in the Spanish language.

“Francisco Casavella’s literary legacy is guaranteed.” Times Literary Supplement

“One of the most talented fiction writers of his generation.” Juan Marsé

“A luxury for our literature." José María Pozuelo Yvancos, ABC 

“With this work, Casavella establishes a strong position among the storytellers that make his novels essential. Without them, the world would be a poorer place; it would have less truth in it.” Enrique Turpín, El Periódico 

“The tremendous, critical vision of a sleepwalking city and era.” Ana María Moix, El País

“El día del Watusi represents the full validation of this author. With time, he will acquire the weight solely reserved for those books that are a brilliant and enduring reference for subsequent works.” Jesús Martínez Gómez, Quimera

“What Casavella achieves in his heroic literature is the revelation of secrets that tell the story of a Barcelona whose existence has been wholly rejected.” Javier Pérez Andújar, El País

“A novel whose beginning is inspired by rumour and the ease with which Casavella is able to capture an oral saga, and culminates in a conspiratory world reminiscent of today’s.” Jordi Costa, El País

“The perfect antidote to the worst of diseases a society can suffer: self-importance. We believe that we are before the novel of the transition itself.” Andrés Pau, Levante

“El día del Watusi is the stark portrait of one of the years that everyone wishes to sweep under the carpet of memory. Only those excluded from history, those who always lose the battles, may appropriate the ‘W’ for Watusi that hovers over the novel.” Joan Riambau, L’Avenç