Book dossier

La Fiesta del Chivo

by Mario Vargas Llosa

"Novela histórica sobre los últimos días del general Rafael Leonidas Trujillo en la República Dominicana en 1961. El hilo conductor de la novela es el retorno a la isla de Urania Cabral, hija de un senador del régimen trujillista, luego de muchos años de la muerte del dictador. Mientras Urania visita a su padre moribundo, la narración reconstruye el fin de una era haciendo un recuento de una serie de personajes históricos, entre ellos, el sempiterno presidente de la República Dominicana, Joaquín Balaguer y ascenso político. La crueldad del poder y la maldad humana destacan en este gran relato, una de las mejores novelas del novelista peruano". --Handbook of Latin American Studies, v. 58. ---------- A 49 year old expatriate Urania Cabral living a life of emptiness and terrorizing memories is finaly returning to her native Dominican Republic to face her nightmares. The year is 1961, the pick of a brutal and horrifying regime lead by Rafael Trujillo, an ailing but still powerful and degenerate dictator. He is called the Goat by the nation of 3 million. Little she knows that despite all the ever present oppresion, cowardice and invigilation there is a conspiracy brewing against the Goat. In this fast paced narrative, masterfuly constructed by Llosa in a typical multilevel, entwining byplays you will find yourself in the world of horror, deception, violence and bloody clashes. It is also a kaleidoscope of human characters, demeanour and decissions in confrontation with a brutal and complex reality. Extraordinary literature. Fantastic material for a movie adaptation.