La reina del sur/ The Queen of the South (Spanish Edition) [Paperback]

Arturo Pérez-Reverte (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 2008

Derived from factual evidence, Perez-Reverte brings us a surprising novel with an interesting twist. This time, the hero is a woman named Teresa Mendoza who is nicknamed by journalists as The Queen of the South and The Mexican by the authorities of three continents. Teresa narrates her story as it unfolds in Mexico over twelve years ago when she was the girlfriend of a pilot employed by drug lords. She did not know how to read nor write, however, after her boyfriend is murdered, she began creating an empire from nothing in the male-dominated world of drug trafficking. Henceforth, the journey begins as she grows her business by conducting deals with the mafias from Spain, France, Italy and Russia. Description in Spanish: En La Reina del Sur, este autor nos muestra, con la maestria que acostumbra, que sus exploraciones de la realidad pueden convertirse en la ficcion mas sorprendente. Que solo alguien como el puede crear un personaje literario que trasciende esa realidad para convertirse en heroe. Pero esta vez el heroe es una mujer: Teresa Mendoza. Una mujer sola que crea un imperio de la nada en un mundo de hombres duros, el del narcotrafico. Una persona capaz de todo y de nada porque la letra de su vida no la ha escrito ella. La Reina del sur es, sin duda, una novela que arrasa, que sorprende, que perturba.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Los lectores no podran pasar las paginas lo suficientemente rapido. Una historia apasionante. --Publishers Weekly

Entretenida como pocas, hermosa por su construccion e inquietante por la grave problematica que late debajo de la aventura criminal. A esta radiografia del delito añade ademas el autor un canto a la propia literatura. --El Cultural

Junten el desencanto neorromantico de Barry Gifford con la maestria narrativa de Juan Marse y añadan una banda sonora con el desgarro de Chavela Vargas. El resultado de semejante mezcolanza ya tiene titulo: La Reina del Sur. --El Periodico de Catalunhia --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Language Notes

Text: Spanish --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 552 pages
• Publisher: Alfaguara (August 15, 2008)
• Language: Spanish
• ISBN-10: 8420471984
• ISBN-13: 978-8420471983
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5.9 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,074,533 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The book is sooo good that 5 stars do little justice to it, May 18, 2003

By 

Juan Carlos Uribe (Bogota, Colombia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: La reina del Sur (Spanish Edition) (Paperback)

This book can be praised from every possible angle. The Narrative technique is spotless; the definition of the characters, fantastic; at some point the reader is not sure whether this is the description of real historical events, because the care placed into every detail its so well tuned that the concept of "fiction" does not sound appropiate to the work. Additionaly is fascinating to read a Spanish author writing in "mexican". The great use of mexican slang through the novel shows how deeply the author went to make its characters realistic. While you read you can almost hear the accent of Teresa Mendoza.

On the external part, this book also shows you how the war on drugs is more like a cruel and sad game if not a joke that is played by victims, criminals and governments without really knowing why.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Altamente recomendado, June 23, 2005

By 

Jose Oquendo "xavierin" (Freeport, New York United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: La reina del Sur (Spanish Edition) (Paperback)

He leído varios libros de autores españoles recientemente. Y La Reina del Sur y La Sombra del Viento, sobresalen por la mezcla de creatividad literaria y entretenimiento que muchos lectores buscan y que los autores han sabido magistralmente imprimir en sendas obras. Si lo que quiere es un libro de aventuras bien planeadas, en locales exóticos y comunes, con una exquisita visión literaria que no sacrifica en nada la continuidad de la lectura, con pasajes cinematográficos difícil de olvidar en el idioma español, La Reina del Sur es, por mucho, ejemplo de la literatura que sin dejar de serlo, atrae a quienes gustan de la ficción popular. Un logro extraordinario por un autor consagrado.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WITTY, PASSIONATE AND FULL OF ADVENTURE. A RED-EYE NOVEL., December 29, 2002

By 

marintia escobedo - journalist. (Mexico city, Mexico.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: La reina del Sur (Spanish Edition) (Paperback)

This is perhaps the most complete story ever written on the subject. Perez-Reverte's incredible view from the female side of a mostly male theme, makes this novel as sensitive and passionate as it is full of excitement and adventure. I call it a "Red-eye novel" because once you start reading it, you will not be able to put it down whether it's day or night. I found myself waking up in the middle of the night just to keep on reading.
The plot is great, the development stunning and the outcome an absolute success. If there is any such thing as the perfect recipe for an awesome novel, it is contained within "La Reina del Sur" masterfully written by Arturo Perez-Reverte. Definitely a "MUST READ".