The Disciple

Seville in the 17th century – a city of both wealth and poverty, the splendour of churches and the shadows of backstreets, where galleons laden with gold arrive from the New World and sail away again with treasures destined for the overseas colonies. It is here that the story begins of a boy nicknamed Lizard, an orphan who scrapes by on the streets with his gang of friends until he is forced into the service of a Flemish merchant. He becomes his apprentice – and at the same time, a witness to the lies, corruption, and betrayal that permeate the entire city.

On his journey from the noisy and foul-smelling streets of Seville, through the markets of Medina del Campo, to the distant shores of the New World, Lizard learns about the harshness of life, but also the strength of the human will. The boy who blindly obeyed orders becomes a young man searching for his own path and freedom.

In his novel The Apprentice, Jon Echanove masterfully brings to life the atmosphere of 17th-century Spain – a time full of contradictions, where power and decline, hope and despair intertwined at every turn. It is a story about growing up, courage, and the ability to keep a spark of humanity alive even where injustice reigns. For readers who love suspense, historical accuracy, and novels like Oliver Twist, The Apprentice will be a true literary treat.