Osvaldo Soriano (1943–1997)

Set in Colonia Vela three years after the events of Soriano's previous book ('A Funny Dirty Little War'), the military have now moved in, and wholly control the town. They have organised an anniversary celebration for the crushing of the uprising, and invited Galvan, a tango singer, and Rocha, an uncouth and washed-up boxer. The two meet on the train in, and form an uneasy partnership. Galvan is due to sing at the celebrations, Rocha is to fight the army favourite. Galvan falls foul of his show more hosts by refusing to attend mass. As he is thrown out of town, he realises that Rocha is being set up to lose, and that his life may be in danger. Galvan returns to town to try and rescue his unlikely friend.
This book is less brutal than the previous one (though it does have its moments) but retains the same comic absurdity. Galvan and Rocha's relationship is genuinely touching and Soriano once again writes beautifully about his sadness with what has happened to his home country. Whereas the Colonia Vela of the first book felt a long way from Buenos Aires, by the second book the Junta had reached out its tentacles into all corners of Argentina. Galvan's weariness and Rocha's naivety make perfect counterpoints to the growing horror of military rule. This was a touching novel, longer and less bloody than 'A Funny Dirty Little War' and, consequently, had much more emotional pull. If Soriano's first book was very good, the this one was excellent. An author I will look for more of in the future. show less

Con una historia simple, prosa rápida y tensa Soriano te resume la atmósfera y el pensamiento general que se vivían en esos años. Me pareció brillante.

"Todo empezó con la repatriación de los restos de Rosas y con esa lápida que encontré en el cementerio de Pére Lachaise que decía espía argentino. Si un espía tiene una tumba con su nombre, es una trampa para que lo crean muerto. Y la discusión de los historiadores sobre los próceres también refleja ese afán de cambiar el pasado, que creo que es una tendencia muy actual. Un mundo en el que todos cambian todo el tiempo desemboca en la incertidumbre de que nadie es nadie, y eso me show more permitió meterme con la Historia y la actualidad a la vez." OSVALDO SORIANO show less

Uma escrita rápida, fácil e cativante sobre um pugilista e um cantor de tango que desafiam de um modo corajoso e original um regime ditatorial em plena Argentina.