Published by Ediciones La Librería, the book is now available in both physical bookstores and online sales platforms. The publication delves into the history of Madrid through its municipal edicts, from the traditional image of the town crier to their function as a key tool for city councils to establish norms and foster coexistence.
The text presents a selection of various provisions, including those that prohibited stopping to observe public works under threat of sanction, as well as others of great historical significance. Among the latter are edicts related to the uprising against the French occupation and more recent texts, such as the one issued by the current mayor during the COVID-19 pandemic, which appealed to civic responsibility.
The work also dedicates sections to prominent figures in municipal politics, such as Enrique Tierno Galván, whose edicts gained great popularity, and Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, with his institutional message after the 11-M Attacks. It also includes controversial provisions by José María Álvarez del Manzano linked to atmospheric alert episodes.
“"The author sent the finished manuscript to his daughter-in-law just days before his passing, making the book a kind of literary testament reflecting his deep connection to the city."
The author, official chronicler of the Villa de Madrid and Getafe, had an extensive career as a journalist, writer, and popularizer of Madrid's history. In Se hace saber…, his profound knowledge of Madrid is reflected in a journey that allows understanding the evolution of the social, political, and urban concerns of the capital through its municipal edicts.
