Dreams of the Centaur: A Novel
A historical novel set in northern Mexico on the eve of revolution, marked by family rupture, land, and violence.
Work Information
A historical novel set in northern Mexico on the eve of revolution, marked by family rupture, land, and violence.
Book Information
- Publisher
- W W Norton & Co Inc
- Published
- 1996-01-01
- Pages
- 349 pages
- Language
- 英語
- Size
- 14.61 x 2.54 x 20.96 cm
- ISBN-13
- 9780393038477
- ISBN-10
- 0393038475
- Price
- 13513 JPY
- Category
- 洋書/Literature & Fiction/Literary
When his father, a determined rancher, is murdered by a jealous rival, Alejo Durcal begins a quest for revenge that brings him face-to-face with death and cultivates a spiritual closeness between his mother and himself.
Reviews
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Wish Author Wrote More
Here's a quote from the jacket: "Dreams of the Centaur" exposes the cruel history of the Porfirio Diaz deportation and enslavement of the Yaqui Indians of the Sonoran Desert at the turn of the twentieth century. The story focuses on Felipa and Alejo, the mother and son caught up in the saga of the times. Fontes write a well-paced adventure story, revealing with honesty the suffering of the people. The novel reads like a Greek tragedy. Gripping to the end." Rudolfo Anaya Before finishing " ... Centaur?" I ordered Fontes "First Confession" Here's a historical note from the book: "After the Battle of Mazocoba, the deportation of the Yaquis from their homeland in Sonora to Yucatan continued, reaching its high point in 1904." ... (65 peso per slave sale price is number I recall from book's context.) ... "Estimates for the number of Yaquis sold to Yucatan are as high as fifteen thousand. The conditions in the henequen plantations remained unchanged until the Revolution of 1910 ended the Diaz regime. At that time, several exiled individuals returned to Mexico to take part in this revolution." Imagine, a hundred years ago, slave lords were selling the Mexican cousins of the Apaches to work in the Mayan jungle country. A novel that would supplement this tale is Norman Zollinger's "Not of War Only."
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Highly recommended journey to a Heart of Darkness in Mexico
I stumbled onto this great book and learned a lot about a fascinating period of Mexican history. Reading this book, you will ask yourself what would I have done? This is why we read. Learning about the Yaquis Indians and the plantations in the Yucatan was also quite interesting. Great book - highly recommended!
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A hidden gem.
Absolutely enthralling and exceptionally well-written. The pacing was addictive and the character development truly memorable. The text was richly written and it's still one of my favorite books.
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Terrific Novel!
An excellent book, meticulously researched and convincing. The characters are easy to connect with, and the story of the Durcal family in turn-of-the-century Mexico is intriguing, enlightening, and an absolutely first-rate piece of fiction.