A collection of 11 densely written impressively imagined and detailed storiesdepicting the colonial history of several Latin American countries by theCuban auth... » 

A collection of 11 densely written impressively imagined and detailed storiesdepicting the colonial history of several Latin American countries by theCuban author of Sea of Lentils 1990. BenitezRojos variously militant orguiltridden narrators and protagonists comprise a colorful multinationalgallery of soldiers slavetraders clerics peasants and miscellaneousunaffiliated adventurers. The best of his provocative packed stories includethe delirious title storys ordeal of a Cuban soldier billeted in a malarialswamp during his countrys 1898 war of independence the confession of a selfserving priest allied with colonialist exploiters Windward Passage and amicrocosmic tale Marina 1936 of class warfare at sea enriched by ironicechoes of Treasure Island and The Tempest. A brilliant book. Kirkus Reviews «