Manuel Zeno Gandia

The first great novel of Puerto Rican literature weighs the beauty and sorrow of the island. The protagonists, Juan and Silvina, come from opposite ends of society, yet they share the sense that their future is thwarted. Zeno Gandía sets his characters in the interior of the island, surrounded by gorgeous scenery and a supporting cast of villains and moral morons. Their collective actions underline the author’s harsh critique of the greed and ignorance of Puerto Rican society. But show more critique grows out of love. Zeno Gandía hoped his book could illuminate what was wrong with Puerto Rico under Spanish rule and restore to people like Juan and Silvina a belief that the future wasn’t hopeless. show less