Renowned Spanish author Lorenzo Silva has revealed the Chinese inspiration behind his bestselling crime novel, The Water Strategy. Silva’s fascination with Chinese culture began in his teenage years when he came across The Art of War, an ancient Chinese text. One specific line from the text served as the catalyst for his crime novel. Silva has also cited the Taoist philosophy book Tao Te Ching as another early influence.
During his recent visit to Shanghai for a book fair, Silva noticed the stark cultural and historical differences between China and Spain. However, he found solace in the shared mindset he discovered among Chinese writers. Silva intentionally gave his detective series protagonist, Sergeant Bevilacqua, an Italian surname to create a sense of foreignness and intrigue. He views Bevilacqua as a mental outsider and a citizen of the world, approaching cases with a different perspective.
Silva’s detective series, centered around Sergeant Bevilacqua and Corporal Chamorro, has received critical acclaim. His second novel in the series, El alquimista impaciente, won the prestigious Nadal Prize in 2000, while La Marca del meridiano received the Premio Planeta de Novela in 2002. Silva has also ventured into writing for TV and film, successfully adapting some of his novels for the screen.
Silva raises concerns about the influence of TV and films on writers, fearing that it can limit literary possibilities and lead to an impoverishment of the craft. He emphasizes the importance of reading for writers and believes that words hold a power and magic that images cannot match. Silva hopes that the literary world remains diverse and doesn’t undervalue other genres in favor of crime fiction, which has gained immense popularity in many countries.
Despite facing challenges when he first started as a writer, Silva’s crime fiction novels have now become central to the publishing world in Spain. He wonders if iconic crime novelist Raymond Chandler would have shared his concerns about the over-valuation of the genre, as Chandler once remarked that it’s not the story itself that matters but rather what’s inside the writer.
Lorenzo Silva’s unique blend of Chinese inspiration and Spanish storytelling has garnered him critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base. As he reflects on his craft and the future of literature, Silva reminds us of the importance of diverse influences, the power of words, and the ever-evolving nature of the written word.
