Themes

• Dehumanization and commodification of human life

• Moral dilemmas in dystopian societies

• Impact of societal changes on personal relationships

• Loss and grief in a world devoid of humanity

• Ethical implications of industrialized food production and meat consumption 

• Struggle between personal conscience and societal norms

• Exploration of what defines humanity in extreme circumstances

Setting

Tender Is the Flesh is set in a dystopian near-future where a virus has made all animal meat poisonous to humans. The story takes place in an unnamed country, likely Argentina, given the author's nationality. The exact time period is not specified, but it appears to be only a few years after the initial outbreak and subsequent “Transition” to legalized cannibalism.

The primary setting is a rural area with processing plants, slaughterhouses, and breeding centers for human meat production. Much of the action occurs at Marcos's workplace and home. Other key locations include his father's nursing home and his sister's house, providing glimpses into how different socioeconomic classes have adapted to the new reality.

While specific city names are not mentioned, the novel paints a vivid picture of a society fundamentally altered by the loss of animal protein. Abandoned zoos, empty farms, and repurposed industrial facilities dot the landscape, serving as stark reminders of the world that was lost. The setting effectively reinforces the book's themes of dehumanization and moral decay in a world where cannibalism has become normalized.

Characters

• Marcos: The protagonist who works at a human meat processing plant. Marcos struggles with the ethical implications of his job and the state of society. He develops a forbidden relationship with a female “specimen” given to him as a gift. Marcos is conflicted between his duties at work and his growing empathy for the humans bred for consumption.

• Jasmine: A female “First Generation Pure” human bred for consumption and given to Marcos as a gift. Marcos names her Jasmine and begins to treat her more like a human than livestock. She becomes pregnant with Marcos' child, complicating his feelings further.

• Cecilia: Marcos's estranged wife. She and Marcos separated after the death of their infant son. Cecilia is a nurse who helps deliver Jasmine's baby in the end.

• Don Armando: Marcos's father who suffers from dementia. He lives in a nursing home and requires Marcos's care and financial support.

• Marisa: Marcos's sister who is obsessed with social status. She hosts an extravagant wake for their father and owns a “domestic head” (human servant), showcasing her callous acceptance of the new societal norms.

• The Butcher: A woman with whom Marcos has an affair. She represents the normalization of the human meat industry in society.

Quick facts

• Tender Is the Flesh was originally published in Spanish in 2017 under the title Cadáver Exquisito.

• The novel won Argentina's prestigious Premio Clarin de Novela.

• The English translation by Sarah Moses was published in 2020.

• The book falls into multiple genres including dystopian fiction, horror, and splatterpunk.

• Author Agustina Bazterrica was born in Buenos Aires and lives in Argentina.

• The story is set in a world where a virus has made all animal meat poisonous to humans.

• In the novel, cannibalism becomes legalized and industrialized.

• In Tender Is the Flesh, humans bred for consumption are referred to as “heads” or “special meat.”

• The main character Marcos works at a human slaughterhouse.

• Scholars have analyzed the book as an allegory for exploitative capitalism as well as a commentary on industrialized food production, meat consumption, and anxiety surrounding  zoonotic diseases.

About the Author

Agustina Bazterrica (1974-) is an accomplished Argentine author. She is best known for her  novel Cadaver Exquisito, which won the prestigious Premio Clarin de Novela in 2017. Set in a dystopian near-future where cannibalism is legal, this acclaimed work of horror, dark humor, and social commentary has been translated into more than 20 languages, including English under the title Tender Is the Flesh.   

Bazterrica holds a degree in fine arts from the University of Buenos Aires. Her debut novel, Matar a la Niña, was published in 2013. This was followed by a collection of short stories, Antes del Encuentro Feroz, in 2016. In 2020, following international recognition for Tender Is the Night, she published another collection of stories, Diecinueve Garras y un Pájaro Oscuro, translated into English as Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird. Her most recent novel, The Unworthy (Las Indignas) was released in 2023.    

Over her literary career, Bazterrica has won multiple literary prizes. A native of Buenos Aires, she remains a key figure in the city’s literary scene and arts community. She has served as a jury member for prestigious contests, including the National Fund for the Arts Award in 2021. From 2015 to 2020, she co-managed the Follow the White Rabbit Art Cycle.