The Murderous Bookseller (Fra Vicents)

Barcelona · Spain · Urban site

The antiquarian sold his beloved books – then followed his customers through the alleys to murder them and take the books back.

Barcelona's most notorious murder legend of the 19th century concerns Fra Vicents, the monk from Poblet monastery who broke his vows and opened an antiquarian bookshop in the lanes of the old town. His bibliomania was described as a disease: he could bring himself to sell his treasures, but not to part with them. According to the legend he trailed his buyers through the night streets and murdered them in dark alleys so he could carry his books home again. When the police finally seized him, he is said to have confessed without remorse – his grief was for the books alone. In 1928 the book historian Ramon Miquel i Planas showed the tale was probably invented by the Frenchman Charles Nodier after an 1827 visit, but by then the murderous bookseller had haunted the city's stories for a century.

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Where is The Murderous Bookseller (Fra Vicents) located?

The Murderous Bookseller (Fra Vicents) is in Barcelona, Spain.

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