Latino lit por favor: Beyond Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Editor’s note: The term ‘Latin American literature’ brings to mind magical realism—‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’ by Gabriel Garcia Marquez—or any of Isabel Allende’s novels. This list introduces you to a far more diverse and far-ranging works from the region–many of which offer an equally compelling view of its darker underbelly. Assembled with inputs from Vivek Tejuja.
About the lead image: This painting titled 'Demonstration' was created by Antonio Berni in 1934.
Dirty Havana Trilogy by Pedro Juan Gutiérrez, translated by Natasha Wimmer: This book is banned in its home state of Cuba but well loved in the rest of South America. Gutierrez’s picaresque novel is a fierce, loving tribute to Havana and the defiant, desperate way of life that flourishes amid its decay. Bold and raw—it is about a self-confessed scumbag called Pedro Juan—and his journey across Cuba and its dark underbelly. A must-read in our opinion.
Hopscotch by Julio Cortázar, translated by Gregory Rabassa: The book follows Horacio Oliveira—an Argentine intellectual in Paris—navigating complex relationships and existential musings. The novel features a unique, non-linear structure that allows readers to choose their reading order, reflecting the fragmented nature of Oliveira’s life. Through its innovative style, the book delves into themes of alienation and the search for meaning.
Thursday Night Widows by Claudia Piñeiro, translated by Miranda France: In this book, Buenos Aires has been shown by the author in a way so different, that you might think it is another place. Published in 2005, this book is about three men who are murdered in mysterious circumstances as the suburban fantasy is punctured. The widows in the title refer to their wives and the book traces what happens to them. Set post the 9/11 economic melt-down of Argentina—it speaks to the realities of late stage capitalism.
Signs Preceding the End of the World by Yuri Herrera, translated by Lisa Dillman: In this book, Makina, a young woman, journeys across the border from Mexico to the US to find her missing brother and deliver a message from their mother. Her quest exposes her to a series of surreal and perilous experiences, reflecting the challenges of migration and displacement. We like how the novel blends mythology with contemporary issues to explore the struggles of those navigating between two worlds.
Conversation in the Cathedral by Mario Vargas Llosa, translated by Gregory Rabassa: This novel reflects on the period of the late 1960s when the writer strongly believed in the possibility of profound social transformation in Latin America. Through this work—he delves into the corrupt, unjust, and hypocritical society of his adolescence in Peru—under military rule. History and personal freedom are relevant themes in this one and makes for an excellent read.
Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli: This book follows a family road trip from New York to the American Southwest, where the father is researching the migrant crisis. As the journey progresses—the family's relationships deteriorate—mirroring the fragmented lives of migrant children. Parallel narratives offer glimpses into the experiences of these children, highlighting themes of displacement and loss. This is a read that will stay with you for some time post-reading.
Captains of the Sands by Jorge Amado, translated by Gregory Rabassa: This is the final work in the Bahian Novels of this author—published in 1937—and follows the pursuit of a gang of homeless orphans and urchins around the cobbled squares and slums of Salvador—a “city black and old”. The chaos of society, poverty and inequality are showcased in this one and it isn’t for the faint-hearted.
Pedro Páramo by Juan Rulfo, translated by Douglas J Weatherford. This book centres on Juan Preciado—who travels to the ghost town of Comala to find his estranged father–the titular Pedro Páramo. Upon arriving, he discovers the town is inhabited by restless spirits and haunted by the legacy of his father’s tyranny. The novel reveals the dark, interwoven stories of the town’s past and explores themes of power, death and disillusionment.
