"Andres Barba has already shown that he can tell stories of childhood and adolescence like few other writers; he has also frequently displayed his psychological perspicacity and "August, October "could well be his greatest achievement so far"--Jose Maria Pozuelo, "Abc""A story that has been described as an explosive clash between Pavese's "The Beautiful Summer "and the adolescents of Gus van Sant's "Elephant.""--Daniel Entrialgo, "Esquire""In my opinion Barba has become an essential writer"--Rafael Chirbes, "Letra Internacional""A novel that consolidates the author's position as a key voice in Spanish fiction"--Alejandro Flores, "El Economista"Fourteen-year-old Tomas goes with his well-off family on their usual seaside summer holiday, but he is at a stage in his life when nothing is the same. Sullenly detached from his family, full of confused intimations of sexuality, he is also faced with death when his widowed aunt, who lives in the resort, is taken seriously ill. As he becomes close to her on her deathbed he frequents the forbidden in the form of some lower-class village kids--casually transgressive boys and even more alien, sexually knowing girls--that will get him involved on the last day in a gang rape of a retarded girl. Though when it is his turn, Tomas only pretends to do it--enough to save face with the boys. Back in Madrid, he wrestles with guilt and confusion. He finally decides to go back secretly, alone, to find the girl and apologize for what happened, but despite the moving scene of atonement and forgiveness, ambiguity lurks even in this redemption.A very adult novel about adolescence written in a crafted, sensual prose that resonates hauntingly in the mind.

Andres Barba is a multi-awarded Spanish novelist, essayist, translator, scriptwriter and photographer. He is the author of a total of thirteen books of literary fiction, non-fiction, photography, arts, and children's literature.