Historias del Kronen is the first novel by Madrid-born Spanish author José Ángel Mañas, with which he was a finalist for the Premio Nadal in January 1994.

He's a young university student, barely 21 years old, who is described as a "spoiled brat,"[9] self-centered, and lacking empathy,[12] whose life revolves only around alcohol, drugs, and sex.

[4] Carlos experiences a progressive process of isolation, alienation, and "solipsistic introversion" that eventually leads to the novel's climax,[9] in which the death of one of his friends—Fierro, a diabetic who has a weak personality and whom the gang believes is a homosexual, apart from a masochist—takes place at his own birthday party, resulting from being forced to drink a bottle of whisky through a funnel and putting cocaine on his penis, which leads to a fatal overdose.

[26] In order to emphasize the fleeting and frivolous nature of the novel's narrative, the author makes use of the resource of inserting strings of location names, in which he omits verbs or articles, or even pronouns.

[27] Historias del Kronen is also characterized by the precise description of the place where the action unfolds, mentioning real places around Madrid,[28][13] such as the Plaza del Dos de Mayo square,[29] the Parque de las Avenidas park,[30] the Las Ventas bullfighting ring,[31] or the Gran Vía street,[32] among others.

"[54] However, the book has received very mixed reviews, with critics pointing out its supposed nature as a novela cutre,[j] as well as its realismo sucio,[k][52] in a pejorative sense, and also drawing attention to its alleged imitation of the dirty realism that originated in the United States.

[54] It has also been said about the book that, by enhancing realism in the narration of the facts as a sort of social commentary, it runs the risk of being only a superficial imitation of the society it is attempting to describe.

[55] More critical authors point out that the narration consists of an "endless reiteration of inane conversations" among the characters and the lack of "substance" of the novel, filled with "an incessant chattering, a bit crude, full of unoriginal phrases and conventionalisms.

[56] The novel portrays young people in 1990s Spain, the vacío existencial[m] and isolation of many of them, and their characteristic disillusionment at failing to find their place in the world,[58] with a pessimistic view of existence and the human condition—common aspects in Generation X writers—[59] added to a perspective influenced by nihilism.

[p][64]The non-profit association Fundación para el Progreso de Madrid chose the novel as one of the ten books that best portray the city.

[68] The book also highlights the superficial nature of all of Carlos's relationships, with his characteristic inability to develop empathy towards his surroundings[69] and a behavior referred to that of an alpha male.

[79][82] In the movie, the novel's ending monologue is replaced by a sequence seen through a video camera that is passed around all the people present at the party, in which Pedro's death—Fierro, in the novel—becomes a sort of snuff film.