Una Virgen Peronista

Argentine writer Jeanmaire is known for dissecting seemingly fantastic events with elegant prose. In this novel, a 52-year-old priest tells the story of his sister Carmen, who after having a vision of the Virgin is interned in a convent. As the narrator and others in the nameless town set out on horses across the Argentine Pampas to bring Carmen home for her first Christmas in 35 years, readers will learn about the source of her vision: she was a victim of the recurring clashes between the peronistas (Dictator Juan Peron's followers) and the Catholic Church during the 1950s. Although the narration appears to be traditional, with echoes of the Spanish picaresque style, the novel hinges on philosophical interpretations of how history repeats itself. At issue is the complex relationship between Peron and the Catholic Church, in particular the brutal 1955 bombing of the Plaza de Mayo sponsored by the Church. However, despite Jeanmaire's profound reflections, his narration is often absurd. The sermons delivered by the narrator, for instance, don't seem to relate directly to their biblical source. Because this text relies on satire and ambiguity to explore a complex moment in Argentine history and the philosophical foundations of history, it is best suited for academic libraries or public libraries interested in literary experimentation and Argentine history.Mary Sarko, Madison, WI