Aura

This is nonfiction commentary. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: The Death of Artemio Cruz, the Old Gringo, Aura, the Crystal Frontier, Inez, Christopher Unborn. Source: Wikipedia. Free updates online. Not illustrated. Excerpt: The Death of Artemio Cruz (Spanish: ) is a novel written in 1962 by Mexican writer Carlos Fuentes and is considered to be a contributor to the Latin American literary movement known as the Latin American "Boom." Artemio Cruz--soldier, politician, journalist, tycoon, lover: all corrupt--lies on his deathbed, recalling the shaping events of his life, from the Mexican Revolution through the development of the PRI--the Party of the Institutional Revolution. His family crowds around, pressing him to reveal the location of his will; a priest provides extreme unction, angling for a deathbed confession and reconciliation with the Church (while Artemio indulges in obscene thoughts about the birth of Jesus); his private secretary has come with audiotapes of various corrupt dealings, many with gringo diplomats and speculators. Punctuating the sordid record of betrayal is Cruz's awareness of his failing body and his keen attachment to sensual life. Death of Artemio Cruz is dedicated to great Sociologist and Humanist C. Wright Mills. "The true voice of North America and great friend in the struggle for the people in Latin America," as Carlos Fuentes writes in the foreword. ..".a dominating theme in his work is the search for Mexican national identity. Of his eleven novels, it is in The Death of Artemio Cruz that this mindset is expressed most strongly," says reviewer Jim Tuck.Tuck goes on further to say, "A grim story--but one that dramatically showcases the intensity of the author's desire to lock into the most poignant period of Mexico's history." ...More: http: //booksllc.net/?id=785496