Muriendo por la dulce patria mía (Biblioteca del sur) (Spanish Edition) [Paperback]

Roberto Castillo (Author)

Book Description

Series: Biblioteca del sur | Publication Date: June 28, 1998

A novel in Spanish centered on the life of legendary Chilean boxer Arturo Godoy, who twice fought Joe Louis for the World Crown in the 1940. It is not a biography but a fictional account of the history of Chile in the 20th Century, in which questions are raised about national identity, politics, violence, and the cult of sport heroes.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Review translated by Catrin Einhorn.

Certain literary debuts deserve immediate recognition from critics and from the public. Just when it seems that the Chilean narrative is suffering from hyperinflation, producing many works of poor quality, suddenly arise voices like that of Roberto Castillo, literature professor in the United States, author of various poems and short stories -- to redeem the clutter with powerful, well-written works. Dying for My Sweet Fatherland -- a title of devastating irony, which becomes evident as the reader progresses through the book -- is essentially the novelized re-creation of the history of Arturo Godoy, the Iquiquian boxer who twice challenged Joe Louis, "the Brown Bomber," one of the outstanding boxers of all time. Despite the author's genuine affection for his character and the commendable historical investigation that informs the work, the book is obviously more than just a novelized biography.

A look at one of the narrative threads, the motif of the "moral triumph" of national sports, demonstrates this quality. Moral triumph seems to have been inaugurated -- or elevated to its maximum level -- by Godoy, a native of "The Land of Champions," in his memorable fights in New York's Madison Square Garden; he came away unrecognizable after so much pounding, but with the internal and moral conviction that he triumphed. Castillo successfully reconstructs the story from the inside, using constrained emotion, a passion for sport and the chronic thirst for triumph that characterizes fans of all kinds.

With an enormous dose of humor and affection, a narrator who recounts his own adventures along the way and solid narrative tools that spin a tale which effortlessly leaps in time and uses multiple voices, Castillo provides a fertile look at Chilean society throughout the century. His gaze is revealing, biting and intimate, defined as much by familiarity as by remoteness, and transformed into a novel that clearly stands out in the narrative panorama of this literary season.

Nothing is more poignant than the throng in the Plaza de Armas listening to the loudspeakers' electronic gibberish, supposedly the direct report of the first confrontation between Godoy and Louis. Nothing is more revealing, either, than the vast expanse of national soul which Castillo explores and exposes with patience, affection, and humanity.

-- -- Rodrigo Pinto Caras, July 24, 1998

Language Notes

Text: Spanish

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Product Details

• Paperback: 316 pages
• Publisher: Planeta (June 28, 1998)
• Language: Spanish
• ISBN-10: 9562471950
• ISBN-13: 978-9562471954
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,006,112 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente novela, February 2, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Muriendo por la dulce patria mía (Biblioteca del sur) (Spanish Edition) (Paperback)

Esta novela me pareció estupenda, tiene cosas que a uno la dejan sorprendida y además se aprende mucho de la historia, no solamente de la historia del boxeo, porque el deporte es el telón de fondo para mencionar otras historias escondidas, como la de las masacres de obreros de las salitreras acá en el Norte, y otras épocas de violencia en Chile. Muy entretenida, porque cubre épocas recientes además, un ejemplo de ello es un capítulo muy bueno sobre el triunfo del NO visto desde el extranjero. Muy recomendada, una se ríe y se entretiene mucho, pero queda pensando con los momentos más profundos que narra.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Una joya de novela, August 6, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Muriendo por la dulce patria mía (Biblioteca del sur) (Spanish Edition) (Paperback)

Esta es una novela magnífica, entretenida y profunda. En muchas partes el lector no puede parar de reír, porque está llena de un sentido del humor muy penetrante, que a veces es visceral y directo y otras veces es oscuro y cortante. Sin ser chileno, pero conociendo ese país, puedo decir que los compatriotas del autor y del protagonista, el gran boxeador Arturo Godoy, gozarán al máximo todos los detalles de este libro que no se puede dejar de lado una vez que se empieza. Lo tiene todo, y fue para mí una sorpresa, puesto que el nombre de Castillo no se encuentra entre los "sospechosos de siempre" de la nueva narrativa de su país.