The Time in Between (Spanish: El tiempo entre costuras) is a 2009 historical fiction novel by Spanish author María Dueñas. Set during the Spanish Civil War and World War II, the novel follows a young seamstress who becomes involved in espionage activities. The work became a bestselling debut novel and was subsequently translated into multiple languages. The English translation by Daniel Hahn was published in 2011.
Plot summary The novel chronicles the story of Sira Quiroga, a young seamstress from Madrid who abandons her conventional life in 1936 to follow her lover to Morocco. After being betrayed and left destitute in Tetuán, Sira rebuilds her life by establishing an atelier for haute couture. As World War II unfolds, she becomes entangled in espionage work, using her position as a dressmaker to gather intelligence from high-society clients. The narrative spans from the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War through the early years of World War II, taking Sira from Madrid to Morocco and eventually to Lisbon. Through her work in fashion and her reluctant involvement in wartime intelligence, Sira navigates the complex political landscape of 1930s and 1940s Europe.
Reception The Time in Between achieved significant commercial and critical success, becoming one of the best-selling Spanish novels of recent decades. Critics noted Dueñas's ability to blend historical events with an engaging personal narrative. The novel's success led to its adaptation into a popular Spanish television series in 2013.
References