Las Mujeres de Adriano = The Women of Adriano

A leading Mexican historian with a weekly news television program, Aguilar Camin is known for his comprehensive analyses of Mexican politics, including the acclaimed A la sombra de la Revolucion Mexicana (In the Shadow of the Mexican Revolution, Cal y Arena, 1989). Already a best seller in Mexico, this latest work revolves around a series of dialogs between a journalist and a fictitious legendary historian called Adriano Alem n. Rather than addressing Adriano's historical tomes, the interviews focus on the emotional and sexual characteristics of his relationships with five women. Elegiac at times, Adriano idealizes his affairs by claiming that his feelings transcend all obstacles and proposing that polygamous love can be faithful. Although Aguilar Camin has argued that there aren't elements of Don Juanismo or machismo here, the novel is bound to stir debate as the women are always seen from Adriano's perspective, and in most cases, they are financially or emotionally dependent on him. This controversial element, though, may be why the novel has been so popular in Mexico. An accessible read, the book is recommended for those interested in sexual mores and in the sociology of machismo, as well as for public libraries and bookstores. Mary Sarko, Madison, WI