En el nombre de Salomé (Spanish Edition)

by Julia Alvarez

Paperback, 2002

Status

Available

Publication

Vintage Espanol (2002), Edition: 1. ed. en espanol de Vintage, 384 pages

Description

A sweeping novel spanning 100 years & the lives of a heroic mother & daughter; inspired by real events. Annotation. In her most ambitious work since In the Time of Butterflies, Julia Alvarez tells the story of a woman whose poetry inspired one Caribbean revolution and of her daughter whose dedication to teaching strengthened another. Camila Henriquez Urena is about to retire from her longtime job teaching Spanish at Vassar College. Only now as she sorts through family papers does she begin to know the woman behind the legend of her mother, the revered Salome Urena, who died when Camila was three. In stark contrast to Salome, who became the Dominican Republic's national poet at the age of seventeen, Camila has spent most of her life trying not to offend anybody. Her mother dedicated her life to educating young women to give them voice in their turbulent new nation; Camila has spent her life quietly and anonymously teaching the Spanish pluperfect to upper-class American girls with no notion of revolution, no knowledge of Salome Urena. Now, in 1960, Camila must choose a final destination for herself. Where will she spend the rest of her days? News of the revolution in Cuba mirrors her own internal upheaval. In the process of deciding her future, Camila uncovers the truth of her mother's tragic personal life and, finally, finds a place for her own passion and commitment. Julia Alvarez has won a large and devoted audience by brilliantly illuminating the history of modern Caribbean America through the personal stories of its people. As a Latina, as a poet and novelist, and as a university professor, Julia Alvarez brings her own experience to this exquisite story.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member beau.p.laurence
an engaging novel that weaves the story of Salome, national poet of the Dominican Republic, with her daughter Camila, who struggles with her legacy (which is forgotten by her compatriots in exile).
LibraryThing member bookfest
Based on the life of the national poet of the Dominican Republic, the novel switches point of view between Salome Urena, born in 1850 and her daughter, who we follow through the 1970s. Although very political, concerning the constant shifting of power in the Dominican Republic, it is more a
Show More
character study than a polemic.

The language and imagery are beautiful and rich, very much in the Latin American tradition.
Show Less
LibraryThing member swbesecker
The author has a good style and creates captivating characters. Was confused with all the Salomes and Papanchos however. Strong vocabulary, good struggle, historical fiction, interesting perspectives. Ending - a bit weak but not terrible.

Language

Original language

Spanish

Original publication date

2000

Physical description

384 p.; 5.2 inches

ISBN

037572690X / 9780375726903

Local notes

espanol
Page: 0.1503 seconds