Učedník – Echanove Jon (2026)

The Czech-language historical novel begins in seventeenth-century Seville, a city of wealth and poverty, glittering churches and shadowy alleys, where galleons arrive from the New World laden with gold before sailing on with treasures destined for overseas colonies. Here, an orphan boy nicknamed Lizard struggles to survive in the streets with a group of friends until he is forced into the service of a Flemish merchant. He becomes the merchant’s apprentice and a witness to the lies, corruption and betrayal permeating the city. His journey takes him from the noisy, foul-smelling streets of Seville through the markets of Medina del Campo to the distant shores of the New World, where he discovers the harshness of life as well as the strength of human will. A boy who once obeyed orders blindly grows into a young man seeking his own path and freedom. Jon Echanove vividly evokes seventeenth-century Spain in a story of coming of age, courage and preserving a spark of humanity amid injustice, written for readers who enjoy suspense, historical authenticity and novels such as Oliver Twist.