Juan Manuel de Prada to Present New Novel at Tenerife’s ‘Haciendo Historia’ Festival
Acclaimed author Juan Manuel de Prada will discuss his latest novel, Cárcel de tinieblas, at the sixth edition of Tenerife’s "Haciendo Historia" festival on November 21.
The sixth edition of the Tenerife festival "Haciendo Historia" (Making History) will feature acclaimed writer Juan Manuel de Prada. As reported by Culturamanía, the author will visit the Museum of History and Anthropology of La Laguna on November 21 to discuss his latest book, Cárcel de tinieblas (2025), the second volume in his ambitious Mil ojos esconde la noche saga.
Moderated by journalist Eduardo García Rojas, the session will explore the research and motivations behind the novel. Following the events of La ciudad sin luz (2024), the new book is set in occupied Paris during the final two years of World War II. Through the eyes of Fernando Navales—an antihero living through a time of repression—De Prada weaves a narrative featuring historical figures such as Pablo Picasso, Gregorio Marañón, Victoria Kent, and María Casares. Notably, the story also features the Tenerife-born painter Óscar Domínguez, linking the European surrealist movement to the island’s cultural history.
De Prada has built a distinguished career since his debut in 1995, earning the National Narrative Prize in 2004 and the Castilla y León Prize for Letters in 2021. His work is known for blending historical accuracy with fiction.
Supported by the Cabildo of Tenerife and the city councils of La Laguna and Santa Cruz, this year’s festival program focuses on four major anniversaries: the bicentennial of James Fenimore Cooper’s The Last of the Mohicans (1826), the centenary of Buster Keaton’s The General (1926), and the 90th anniversary of Gone with the Wind (1936). Additionally, the festival will mark the 175th anniversary of Mary Shelley’s death with lectures by Lorenzo Luengo and Espido Freire at the Masonic Temple of Santa Cruz, exploring the origins of her famous work.
All festival activities are free to the public until capacity is reached. By hosting these events, the festival aims to make culture more accessible and encourage dialogue between history and modern literature.