Death of Artemio Cross

La muerte de Artemio Cruz

※The “most comprehensive, most perfect and most remarkable” novel by Carlos Fuentes, the leader of the “Latin American Literary Boom” ※A milestone work that kicked off the “Latin American Literary Boom” ※The Mexican version of “Citizen Kane”, an X-ray of contemporary Mexican history————————————————————————————————————
In April 1959, Mexican newspaper tycoon Artemio collapsed in his office after returning from a business trip in Hermosillo. When he regained consciousness, he found himself lying on a bed in his mansion, awaiting death. His shameless memories and his decaying body were all he had left. His wife and daughter, who watched over him, showed no concern for his fate, only a desire for his will. In a trance, Artemio's mind drifted back and forth between the present and the past, lost in fantasy and nightmares, as crucial moments from his life resurfaced.
In 1919, Artemio, a young veteran of the Mexican Revolution, arrived at the Puebla home of his comrade, Gonzalo Bernal. He deceived Gonzalo's father, married Gonzalo's sister, and stole Gonzalo's fortune. He then maneuvered to seize the lands of Puebla's landowners, manipulated his election to parliament, and used underhanded tactics to destroy his business rivals, gradually amassing immense wealth and reaching the pinnacle of his life. The novel concludes in 1903, where Artemio's life began. His mother, Isabel Croce, was a mixed-race woman who gave birth to him after being raped by her master, Anastasio Menchaco, who then beat and kicked her out. He was secretly raised by his uncle, Lunero. Seeking to change his fate, he joined the Mexican Revolution, only to betray his ideals.
First published in 1962, the novel "The Death of Artemio Cruz" is one of Mexican writer Carlos Fuentes' most celebrated works, hailed as a milestone in the "Latin American literary boom." Through its multi-voiced narrative structure, the novel showcases the complexity of human and national character.

2024-03-01

上海译文出版社

376

9787532792634