In this book 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. In chapter 1 Menton thoroughly defines the new historical novel and explores six traits that distinguish it from the traditional or “not-so-new” historical novel. He also theorizes about why the new historical novel began to appear so profusely in the late 1970s. He argues, convincingly, that among several factors responsible for the enormous popularity of the subgenre, perhaps the single most important was the proximity of the Columbus Quincentennial. The subgenre came to dominate Latin American fiction only in 1979 with the publication of Alejo Carpentier’s novel El arpa y la sombra. Works analyzed in subsequent chapters include Mario Vargas Llosa’s Guerra del fin del mundo, Abel Posse’s Perros del paraíso, Fernando del Paso’s Noticias del império, Gabriel García Márquez’ General en su laberinto, Fernando Cruz Kronfly’s Ceniza del Libertador, Alvaro Mutis’ Ultimo rostro, Germán Espinosa’s Sinfonía desde el Nuevo Mundo, Ricardo Piglia’s Respiración artificial, and Carlos Fuentes’ Campaña.
A fascinating chapter on the Jewish Latin American historical novel is titled Over Two Thousand Years of Exile and Marginality.” Here Menton studies several noncanonical works: Pedro Orgambide’s Aventuras de Edmund Ziller en tierras del nuevo mundo, Moacyr Scliar’s A estranha naçáo de Rafael Mendes, Homero Aridjis’ 1492. Vida y tiempos de Juan Cabezón de Castilla, and Angelina Muñiz’ Tierra adentro.
Menton’s 305-item bibliography should prove indispensable to literary scholars, as should his list of 367 “new and not-so-new Latin American historical novels” published between 1949 and 1992. A broadly representative selection of authors and countries, copious notes, and meticulous attention to accuracy and detail result in a solid work. Original in scope and perspective, eloquent in presentation, this volume would be a valuable and significant addition to any Latin Americanist’s library.
