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Sixteenth-century
Puerto Rico, one of Spain's most valuable outposts in the New World-it
was a gateway to the gilded lands of the south and the idyllic home of
the Arawak and Taino Indians-is the setting for this new collection
from Lopez Nieves [see the review of El corazón de Voltaire ("Voltaire's
Heart") in our 2/15/06 issue, and the review of Seva in our 8/15/2006
issue]. Nearly flawless tales marked by crisp dialog and vivid
narration bring to life the glory of exploration by sea, the
acquisition of new lands, and the pride of building fabulous cities for
the benefit of the Spanish Catholic Royals. In these works, López Nieves
holds up a mirror reflecting the stark realities of colonial life
throughout the Americas: widespread greed, rampant cruelty, and
unchecked exploitation of native and slave populations. In the opening
tale, land is first sighted in the early morning hours of October 12,
1492, and when Columbus disembarks upon Bahamian shores in the West
Indies he receives a most reverential welcome from the peaceful and
friendly indigenous population. Five stories explore episodes in the
lives of intrepid explorers, despotic rulers, bloodthirsty pirates, and
religious zealots. The final story tells of an amateur genealogist who
becomes depressed upon learning the sad truth about his French
ancestor, a Dominican priest who died a victim of the Inquisition in
16th-century Puerto Rico. The discovery and disclosure of lands,
people, and lost documents appear to be the underlying themes running
through the stories. Whether experimenting with the epistolary form of
storytelling that brought him fame in El corazón de Voltaire or
developing parallel plots within the same piece, López Nieves shows that
he is as good a weaver of short tales as of a full-length novel. Though
tinged at times with episodic depictions of graphic violence within the
context of the Spanish Inquisition, the book is recommended for all
academic and public libraries and bookstores containing
Spanish-language fiction collections. -Diana Kirby, Palm Beach Cty. Lib.
System, FL
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