Leonardo's Bicycle

Leonardo's Bicycle follows two storylines separated by centuries. The first tracks Leonardo da Vinci's journey through Milan in the late 1400s as he works on various inventions and engineering projects, while the second follows Mexican anarchist José de la Rosa in the early 1900s. The narratives center on the mystery of a bicycle sketch that appears in da Vinci's notebooks, depicting a design centuries ahead of its time. The story moves between da Vinci's creative process and political intrigues in Renaissance Italy to de la Rosa's dangerous mission involving anarchist groups across Europe. Characters in both timelines pursue questions about the true origin and meaning of the bicycle design, while navigating complex social and political landscapes. The parallel stories trace themes of invention, political resistance, and the relationship between art and revolution. The novel explores how radical ideas - whether technological or political - can emerge long before their time, and how visionaries in different eras might be connected by their drive to imagine new possibilities for the world.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Paco Ignacio Taibo II's overall work: Readers connect strongly with Taibo II's mix of crime fiction and political themes, particularly in his Héctor Belascoarán Shayne detective series. Many review comments highlight how his books provide insight into Mexican society and politics. Readers appreciate: - Complex characters and detailed Mexico City settings - Integration of real historical events with fiction - Dark humor and social commentary - Fast-paced, noir-style storytelling Common criticisms: - Plot structures can feel disjointed - Political messaging sometimes overshadows story - Translations don't always capture original Spanish nuances - Some find the writing style choppy Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: "An Easy Thing" - 3.8/5 (1,000+ ratings) "Return to the Same City" - 3.9/5 (500+ ratings) Amazon: Most titles average 4/5 stars One reader noted: "His books read like fever dreams - chaotic but compelling." Another commented: "The politics can be heavy-handed, but the characters feel authentic to Mexico City's underbelly."

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🔸 Although Leonardo da Vinci sketched designs for numerous inventions, the bicycle drawing attributed to him (which appears in Codex Atlanticus) is now believed by many scholars to be a forgery added in the 1960s. 🔸 Author Paco Ignacio Taibo II is a renowned Mexican writer who founded the "neopolicial" genre, a form of Latin American crime fiction that incorporates social and political criticism. 🔸 The book blends historical fiction with elements of detective noir, creating a narrative that jumps between Renaissance Italy and contemporary Mexico City. 🔸 Taibo uses the metaphor of the bicycle throughout the novel to explore themes of human progress, innovation, and the cyclical nature of violence and corruption. 🔸 The author has won multiple literary awards, including three Hammett Prizes for crime fiction, and was named the head of Mexico's Fondo de Cultura Económica, one of Latin America's largest publishing houses.