Romulo Gallegos is best known for being Venezuela's first democratically elected president. But in his native land he is equally famous as a writer responsible for one of Venezuela's literary treasures, the novel "Dona Barbara". Published in 1929 and all but forgotten by Anglophone readers, "Dona Barbara" is one of the first examples of magical realism, laying the groundwork for later authors such as Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Mario Vargas Llosa. Following the epic struggle between two cousins for an estate in Venezuela, "Dona Barbara" is an examination of the conflict between town and country, violence and intellect, male and female. Dona Barbara is a beautiful and mysterious woman - rumored to be a witch - with a ferocious power over men. When her cousin Santos Luzardo returns to the plains in order to reclaim his land and cattle, he reluctantly faces off against Dona Barbara, and their battle becomes simultaneously one of violence and seduction. All of the action is set against the stunning backdrop of the Venezuelan prairie, described in loving detail. Gallegos' plains are filled with dangerous ranchers, intrepid cowboys, and damsels in distress, all broadly and vividly drawn. A masterful novel with an important role in the inception of magical realism, "Dona Barbara" is a suspenseful tale that blends fantasy, adventure, and romance. Hailed as "the Bovary of the llano" by Larry McMurtry in his new foreword to this book, "Dona Barbara" is a magnetic and memorable heroine who has inspired numerous adaptations on the big and small screens, including a recent series on Telemundo.

About the Author
Romulo Gallegos (1884-1969) was a Venezuelan novelist and politician who served briefly as the nation's first democratically elected president. After publishing Dona Barbara, he was forced to flee to Spain but returned in 1936 to hold a variety of political offices. He was again forced out by a coup d'etat in 1948, but returned in 1958 and was elected senator for life.

Reviews
"Remarkable.... From its first pages it reveals why it made Romulo Gallegos famous.... If Senor Gallegos is one-half as good a President as he is a novelist, Venezuela is a lucky land." (New York Times) "An exciting heroic tale of the life of Venezuelan plainsmen, master and peons, ranchers and cowboys and horse thieves." (New Republic)"



Book Information
ISBN 9780226279206
Author Romulo Gallegos
Format Paperback
Page Count 448
Imprint University of Chicago Press
Publisher The University of Chicago Press
Weight(grams) 510g
Dimensions(mm) 21mm * 14mm * 3mm