Latin America's New Historical Novel (Texas Pan American Series) - Softcover

Menton, Seymour

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0292729189 ISBN 13: 9780292729186

Publisher: University of Texas Press, 2011

Synopsis

Beginning with the 1979 publication of Alejo Carpentier's El arpa y la sombra, the New Historical Novel has become the dominant genre within Latin American fiction. In this at-times tongue-in-cheek postmodern study, Seymour Menton explores why the New Historical Novel has achieved such popularity and offers discerning readings of numerous works.

Menton argues persuasively that the proximity of the Columbus Quincentennial triggered the rise of the New Historical Novel. After defining the historical novel in general, he identifies the distinguishing features of the New Historical Novel.

Individual chapters delve deeply into such major works as Mario Vargas Llosa's La guerra del fin del mundo, Abel Posse's Los perros del paraíso, Gabriel García Márquez's El general en su laberinto, and Carlos Fuentes' La campaña. A chapter on the Jewish Latin American novel focuses on several works that deserve greater recognition, such as Pedro Orgambide's Aventuras de Edmund Ziller en tierras del Nuevo Mundo, Moacyr Scliar's A estranha nação de Rafael Mendes, and Angelina Muñiz's Tierra adentro.

About this title

About the Author:

Seymour Menton is Professor of Spanish and Portuguese at the University of California at Irvine.

Review:

"Seymour Menton has produced not only a scholarly, engaging, and very readable study of the 'new historical novel' but also a fresh and comprehensive overview of the contemporary Latin American novel in general. . . . Original in scope and perspective, eloquent in presentation, this volume would be a valuable and significant addition to any Latin Americanist's library." (Hispanic American Historical Review)

"Scholars and students of contemporary Latin American narrative will be made aware of recent fiction not yet discussed in English-language criticism or, for that matter, at any length in Spanish-language criticism. Menton opens up a significant new area for further critical inquiry." (Review: Latin American Literature and Arts)

About this edition

• Publisher: University of Texas Press
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0292729189
• ISBN 13: 9780292729186
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240