The history of Peru unfolds in the lives of the descendants of seven children fathered by a Catholic priest and his longtime secret lover.

Renato Cisneros's great-great-grandmother Nicolasa bore seven children by her long-term secret love, who was also her priest, raising them alone in nineteenth century Peru. More than a century later, Renato, the descendent of that clandestine affair, struggles to wring information about his origins out of recalcitrant relatives, whose foibles match the adventures and dalliances of their ancestors. As buried secrets are brought into the light, the story of Nicolasa's progeny unfolds, bound up with key moments in the development of the Republic of Peru since its independence.

About the Author

Renato Cisneros (Lima, 1976) is a well-known journalist, broadcaster and writer in Peru, where he presents current affairs programmes on radio and TV. Having published a number of books of poetry and two novels, in 2015 he stepped back from his career as a broadcaster to fully concentrate on his writing. The Distance Between Us has sold over 35,000 copies in Peru alone and has been lauded in the Peruvian and international press. It was shortlisted for the Second Mario Vargas Llosa Biannual Award, longlisted for the Prix Medicis (2017) and was the winner of the Prix Transfuge du Meilleur Roman De Litterature Hispanique (2017). A prequel, Dejaras la tierra is already a bestseller in Spain and Latin America and is to be published by Charco Press. Renato Cisneros lives in Madrid.

Fionn Petch is a Scottish-born translator. He lived in Mexico City for 12 years, where he completed a PhD in Philosophy at the UNAM, and now lives in Berlin. His translations of Latin American literature for Charco Press have been widely acclaimed. Fireflies by Luis Sagasti was shortlisted for the Translators' Association First Translation Award 2018. The Distance Between Us by Renato Cisneros received an English PEN Award in 2018. A Musical Offering , also by Luis Sagasti, was shortlisted for the Republic of Consciousness Prize 2021 and won the UK Society of Authors Premio Valle Inclan 2021 for best translation from Spanish.

Reviews

"This thorough account of a powerful family will intrigue fans of Latin American literature." -Publishers Weekly

"An absorbing exploration of one family's clandestine roots and inherited lies. (4 stars)" -The Wee Review

"A relentless search by a writer to discover his family secrets." -Morning Star

"Excellent and thought provoking." -You Shall Leave Your Land

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Praise for Renato Cisneros

"An extraordinary family story... Renato Cisneros delivers here the captivating narrative of a strange and disturbing filiation. A loving and lucid puzzle." -Le Monde

"This is a book to set alongside Philip Roth's Patrimony, Hector Abad's Oblivion, Paul Auster's The Invention of Solitude, Martin Amis's Experience, Albert Camus' The First Man, and of course Kafka's Letter to His Father." -Le Figaro Litteraire

"Cisneros is a phenomenon in Latin America today." -El Pais

"The Distance Between Us goes far and appeals to the reader exactly because there is so little distance between what is written and what was lived."" -Alberto Fuguet , author of BAD VIBES

"Just as a father is never prepared to bury his son, a son is never prepared to dig up his father"(...) It is within this tension that this magnificent novel lies, full of drama and suspense from the very first page."" -Edmundo Paz Soldan , author of TURING'S DELIRIUM and NORTE

"The Distance Between Us is the story of a villain told from love. It dwells in the humanity hidden behind the themes left by war. It also narrates that other war: the one which all of us wage against our parents to become the persons we are."" -Santiago Roncagliolo , author of RED APRIL

"No one that reads this book will be able to look at their family in the same way again."" -Gabriela Wiener , author of SEXOGRAPHIES and NINE MOONS

"This is an impressive book. In writing it the author demonstrates great talent, as well as great courage."" -Mario Vargas Llosa , author of THE TIME OF THE HERO and CONVERSATION IN THE CATHEDRAL

"People should read this novel to learn more about themselves."" -Jorge Edwards , author of PERSONA NON GRATA

Globetrotting: Your sneak preview of books in translation -New York Times

"A book so intelligent and moving, you wish it would never end." -Liberation

Book Information
ISBN 9781913867300
Author Renato Cisneros
Format Paperback
Page Count 314
Imprint Charco Press
Publisher Charco Press