Not Even the Dead
Not Even the Dead by Juan Goméz Barcena, published by Open Letter in 2023, is a 304-page work that explores the aftermath of the conquest of Mexico through the eyes of Juan de Toñanes, a soldier seeking redemption. As he embarks on a mission to track down a renegade Indian known as the Father, who preaches a dangerous heresy, Toñanes confronts the complexities of his past and the land he helped conquer. This narrative intertwines historical events with a quest for justice, reflecting on the lives of those often overlooked in history.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of characters and themes that traverse time and geography, from the sixteenth century to contemporary issues. The story delves into the struggles of old conquerors, migrants, and revolutionaries, all connected by a shared hope for justice and transformation. Not Even the Dead presents a vivid exploration of historical and literary elements, inviting readers to reflect on the enduring impact of these narratives on today’s world.
Official synopsis Publisher
A claim of justice for the losers of history with echoes of authors as different as Joseph Conrad, Alejo Carpentier, and David Mitchell.
The conquest of Mexico is over, and Juan de Toñanes is one of so many soldiers without glory who roam like beggars for the land they helped subdue. When he receives one last mission, to hunt down a renegade Indian who’s called the Father and who preaches a dangerous heresy, he understands that this may be his last chance to carve himself the future he’s always dreamed of. But as he goes deep into the unexplored lands of the north following the Father’s trace, he will discover the footprints of a man who seems not only a man, but a prophet destined to transform his time and even the times to come.
Not Even the Dead is the story of a persecution that transcends territories and centuries; a path pointing northward, always northward, that is to say, always toward the future, on a hallucinated journey from the sixteenth century New Spain to today’s Trump wall. Old conquerors on horseback and migrants riding the roofs of the Beast, rebellious Indians and peasants waiting patiently for a better world, Mexican revolutionaries who take their rifles and women murdered in the desert of Ciudad Juárez, all pass by it. All of them share the same landscape and the same hope, the arrival of the Father who will bring justice to the oppressed.
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