An extraordinary epic of love, family, and war set in the Basque town of Guernica before, during, and after its destruction by the German Luftwaffe during the Spanish Civil War. In 1935, Miguel Navarro finds himself in conflict with the Spanish Civil Guard and flees the Basque fishing village of Lekeitio to make a new start in Guernica, the centre of Basque culture and tradition. Once there, he finds more than just a new life he finds someone to live for. Miren Ansotegui is the charismatic and graceful dancer he meets and the two discover a love they believe nothing can destroy ...Rich in the history of the region, the Red Baron, the Luftwaffe and even Picasso make appearances in Guernica as the fate of the Navarro family is traced through the early decades of the twentieth century. 'A heart-rending yet life-affirming story' Daily Mail

"Boling threads his way through the stories of his many characters with humor, compassion and rich details of Basque tradition... Moving." - "Washington Post Book World"

"Boling breathes life into a flash point in history and creates an endearing and tragic drama that feels relevant today. "Guernica" is an ambitious debut by a writer whose daring imagination and seamless prose transports us to an extraordinary time and place." -Jim Lynch, author of "The Highest Tide"

"Ambitious...A moving tale of courage and resilience that celebrates the history of an embattled culture while depicting in persuasive detail the communal and representative experiences of a single extended Basque family...The Ansoteguis' indomitable will to live is memorably symbolized by the beloved Tree of Guernica--a commanding image shown in Pablo Picasso's eponymous mural, whose conception and creation are also part of this absorbing story...[T]his is a very good novel indeed--and a crucial reminder that genocidal folly is never as far away from us as we might wish."--"Kirkus Reviews"

"Boling's portrait of the Guernica tragedy is vivid, as is his illustration of the Basque people's oppression....[S]killful with characters and dialogue, possessing a great sense of timing and humor."--"Publishers Weekly"

"A family saga set against the destruction of the Basque town of Guernica in 1937... Enhanced by Boling's knowledge of Basque culture, this is a convincing fictionalization of an infamous act of war."--"Booklist"