Argentine author Guillermo Saccomanno’s dark, unflinching examination of societal decay officially releases today across Spanish-speaking countries, according to information from Spanish publisher Alfaguara and reporting from Infobae.
“Arderá el viento” (“The Wind Will Blaze”), which secured the prestigious 2025 Alfaguara Prize earlier this year, is not yet available in English translation. American readers interested in the work will need to wait for a potential future translation announcement or read it in the original Spanish.
According to Infobae’s reporting published today, the novel unfolds in a coastal town where an aristocratic Hungarian couple and their children take over a hotel, serving as catalysts that expose the community’s hidden corruption. The narrative weaves together politics, drug trafficking, law enforcement, and media complicity through what the prize jury described as a “distorted metaphor for the spirit of our time.”
As reported by EFE news agency in January when the prize was announced, the author composed the manuscript under extraordinary circumstances. After losing his apartment of eight years, he converted a garage into a writing space. There, battling through multiple serious health crises including pneumonia and COVID-19, he completed the manuscript in just three months.
The book’s digital edition became available yesterday on platforms like Amazon Kindle, as shown on the retailer’s website, while physical copies have varied availability. Amazon lists the print edition for pre-order with a May 20 release date, though brick-and-mortar bookstores in Spanish-speaking countries may have copies available starting today as part of publisher Alfaguara’s simultaneous release strategy.
Colombian writer Juan Gabriel Vásquez, who led the prize jury, praised the work for its portrayal of social deterioration, as quoted in multiple Spanish-language publications covering the award announcement.
“Arderá el viento” joins Saccomanno’s body of work, which includes “El amor argentino” (2004) and “Cámara Gesell” (2012). According to EFE’s reporting, the novel won from among 725 manuscripts submitted to the Alfaguara competition, with entries from Spain, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, and other Spanish-speaking countries.
Disclaimer
Publication and availability dates for “Arderá el viento” may vary by country, retailer, and format. Information is current as of March 21, 2025. No English translation exists at time of publication. For the most current information on international availability, readers should consult the publisher, Alfaguara.
