| Alejo
Carpentier translated by Thomas and Carol Christensen |
THE HARP AND THE SHADOW | ||
THE HARP
AND THE SHADOW
|
Alejo Carpentier, a master of the modern Latin American novel, explores the consequences of the European discovery of the Americas in the three-part novel of ideas. “An extraordinary display of historical inquisitiveness and stylistic
maturity, a book that dares to awaken Columbus from his glorious eternal
rest to denounce his foolishness, his mendacity, his insatiable greed
for gold.” “...it is most rewarding to have [Carpentier’s] version of other possibilities
of the Columbus legend as he mingles time and people in a great swirl
of events and ideas that will surely cause a great amount of huffing and
puffing among the keepers of the flame.” |
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ALEJO CARPENTIER, who coined the term "magic realism," is considered one of the fathers of modern Latin American literature. His complex, baroque style has inspired such writers as Gabriel García Márquez and Carlos Fuentes. Born in Havana in 1904, Carpentier was the author of numerous novels, including The Kingdom of This World, The Lost Steps, Explosion in a Cathedral, and Reasons of State. He lived in France and Venezuela before returning to his native Cuba after the revolution. He died in Paris in 1980.
THOMAS AND CAROL CHRISTENSEN have translated numerous works, including: Julio Cortázar, Around the Day in Eighty Worlds, Laura Esquivel, Like Water for Chocolate, Carlos Fuentes, Constancia and Other Stories for Virgins, and, most recently, Louis-Ferdinand Céline, Ballets Without Music, Without Dancers, Without Anything, which was named a finalist in the PEN Center USA West 2000 Literary Awards. In October 2000, Tom received an award from the American Literary Translators Association for his “Dedication to Translation,” which he earned in part during his years publishing fine works in translation for Mercury House. Visit Tom's website at www.rightreading.com. | ||