Terra Nostra

By: Carlos Fuentes, Jorge Volpi - introduction, Margaret Sayers Peden - translator, Milan Kundera - afterword

Narrated by: Walter Krochmal

One of the great masterpieces of modern Latin American fiction, Terra Nostra is concerned with nothing less than the history of Spain and of South America, with the Indian Gods and with Christianity, with the birth, the passion, and the death of civilizations. Fuentes skillfully blends a wide range of literary forms, stories within stories, Mexican and Spanish myth, and famous literary characters in this novel that is both a historical epic and an apocalyptic vision of modern times. Terra Nostra is that most ambitious and rare of creations - a total work of art.

©1976 Translation copyright 1976 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Inc., Originally published in Spanish, copyright 1975 by Editorial Joaquin Mortiz, S.A., Mexico, Afterword 1983 by Milan Kundera (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

A shambling, veering, digressional masterwork.

Terra Nostra is a massive, blasphemic ramble through Hispanic and Biblical history. Historical figures are characters, everyone is honest and a liar and mad. The dichotomy between higher ideas, the carnal, & grotesque is ever-present in this crazy book. Characters reincarnate through the centuries and toward an apocalyptic future.
Written with a fearless intensity.
A 'novel of ideas' (not plot).
Krochmal's narration is fantastic.

Theologically, philosophically, and horrifically challenging to advanced, dedicated readers

Fuentes presents us with a candidate for a work that should be on more lists with prominent candidacy. This work fuses complex religious topics, philosophical debates, delicate historical events. and sociological commentary into an existential tale of horror that marvels at the churning, bloody wheel of history. Come to this book with an understanding of medieval Christian, Jewish, and Islamic philosophy and be ready to chew on the uncountable, unanswerable questions that this boom will challenge you with.

Too much of a good thing

Would you try another book from the authors and/or Walter Krochmal?

I couldn't finish it. It was too much like other books I have read by this author

Would you ever listen to anything by the authors again?

No