The Death of Fidel Perez
Elizabeth Huergo
(Author)
Description
On July 26, 2003, the 50th anniversary of the Moncada Army Barracks raid in Santiago de Cuba, something unexpected happens. When Fidel Pérez and his brother accidentally tumble to their deaths from their Havana balcony, the neighbors' outcry, "Fidel has fallen," is misinterpreted by those who hear it. The misinformation quickly ripples outward, and it reawakens the city. Three Cubans in particular are affected by the news--an elderly vagrant Saturnina, Professor Pedro Valle, and his student Camilo--all haunted by the past and now forced to confront a new future, perhaps another revolution. Their stories are beautifully intertwined as they converge in the frantic crowd that gathers in La Plaza de la Revolución. By turns humorous and deeply poignant, The Death of Fidel Pérez reflects on the broken promises of the Cuban Revolution and reveals the heart of a people with a long collective memory.Product Details
Price
$25.00
$23.25
Publisher
Unbridled Books
Publish Date
March 26, 2013
Pages
288
Dimensions
5.5 X 8.3 X 1.3 inches | 1.0 pounds
Language
English
Type
Hardcover
EAN/UPC
9781609530952
BISAC Categories:
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About the Author
Elizabeth M. Huergo was born in Havana, Cuba and came to the United States as a child as a political refugee. She teaches literature and creative writing at Montgomery College (Maryland). Her poetry and fiction have been published and anthologized by Lost Horse Press, Live Wire Press, Paycock Press, Potomac Review, and Natural Bridge. This is her first novel.
Reviews
"There is an erudition of language and a wealth of dramatized history in this novel. Both a portrait of the realities of the revolution and a speculative fiction as to what has happened to the Cuban soul with the event of Fidel Castro's rise and--in this scenario--what may well happen with his passing, The Death of Fidel Pérez will reward both a general audience looking for a lively read and the discerning reader who truly cares about literature: in short, a heartfelt and well-written novel, with a provocative premise...." -- Oscar Hijuelos "The Death of Fidel Perez is a brilliantly achieved and totally convincing exploration of life in contemporary Cuba. Elizabeth Huergo brings Havana to life and peoples it with a cast of memorable characters who are caught in, though not always defined, by history. This is a remarkable debut." -- Eamonn Wall, author of Sailing Lake Mareotis Havana-born first-time novelist Huergo's clever political satire uses an intriguing premise to depict what could happen to her native country if Fidel and Raúl Castro suddenly died....The revolution to oust the old-guard Castro regime imagined in Huergo's intricate novel might be foretelling Cuba's future. -- Publishers Weekly "Offers an invigorating glimpse into contemporary Cuba and its haunting past."--Booklist In The Death of Fidel Pérez Elizabeth Huergo weaves in the recent history of Cuba with the tormented lives of its residents - all in a story that takes place in one day and begins with the shenanigans of two misfits...the book moves swiftly and The Death of Fidel Pérez serves as an excellent history lesson and intriguing story. --Hispanic Review With [a] brilliant premise, Cuban-born Elizabeth Huergo launches The Death of Fidel Pérez, a provocative debut novel...with a writing style deeply influenced by the best of the Latin American magical realism traditions, The Death of Fidel Pérez is a lyrical and heartfelt fable--an optimistic, yet wise, ode to the possibilities and apprehension inherent in the words, "Fidel has fallen." --Shelf Awareness
