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Published Jan 2011
432 pages
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publication Information
Carlos Fuentes, one of the world's most acclaimed authors, is at the height of his powers in this stunning new novel--a magnificent epic of passion, magic, and desire in modern Mexico, a rich and remarkable tapestry set in a world where free will fights with the wishes of the gods.
Josué Nadal has lost more than his innocence: He has been robbed of his life--and his posthumous narration sets the tone for a brilliantly written novel that blends mysticism and realism. Josué tells of his fateful meeting as a skinny, awkward teen with Jericó, the vigorous boy who will become his twin, his best friend, and his shadow. Both orphans, the two young men intend to spend their lives in intellectual pursuit--until they enter an adult landscape of sex, crime, and ambition that will test their pledge and alter their lives forever.
Idealistic Josué goes to work for a high-tech visionary whose stunning assistant will introduce him to a life of desire; cynical Jericó is enlisted by the Mexican president in a scheme to sell happiness to the impoverished masses. On his journey into a web of illegality in which he will be estranged from Jericó, Josué is aided and impeded by a cast of unforgettable characters: a mad, imprisoned murderer with a warning of revenge, an elegant aviatrix and addict seeking to be saved, a prostitute shared by both men who may have murdered her way into a brilliant marriage, and the prophet Ezekiel himself.
"Fuentes offers up a positively unruly contemplation of Mexico's history and future, frequently interrupted by digressions that are often philosophical, political, slapstick, or raunchy, but always provocative." - Publishers Weekly
"This bold probe of the Mexican situation by a literary master should be enjoyed by everyone interested in the conflicts and contradictions of our global culture." - Library Journal
"Starred Review. A compelling novel by one of the masters of contemporary fiction." - Kirkus
"The great Fuentes' latest novel … not only reasserts the continued livelihood of magic realism long after its advent in Latin American fiction in the 1970s but also reaffirms the sheer livelihood of that wondrous characteristic when handled as provocatively as it is here … A startling rendition of Mexican life in all its passion and sadness." - Booklist
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Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Carlos Fuentes is the author of more than twenty books, including Happy Families, The Eagle's Throne, This I Believe, The Death of Artemio Cruz, and The Old Gringo. He served as Mexico's ambassador to France from 1975 to 1977. He has received many awards and honors, including the Rómulo Gallegos Prize, the National Prize in Literature (Mexico's highest literary award), as well as France's Legion of Honor medal, and Spain's Prince of Asturias Award. His work has appeared in The Nation, Vanity Fair, and The New York Times. He currently divides his time between Mexico City and London.
Edith Grossman, the winner of a number of translating awards, most notably the 2006 PEN Ralph Manheim Medal, is the distinguished translator of works by major Spanish-language authors, including Gabriel García Márquez, Mario Vargas Llosa, Mayra Montero, and Álvaro Mutis, as well as Carlos Fuentes. Her translation of Miguel de Cervantes's Don Quixote was published to great acclaim in 2003.
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