The Adventures of China Iron

Author: Gabriela Cabezon Camara

Title: The Adventures of China Iron

Binding: Paperback

Number Of Pages: 195

Release Date: 2021-03-01

Details: (* China. Pronounced 'cheena': designation for female, from the Quechua. Iron: The English word for Fierro, reference to the gaucho Martin Fierro, from Jose Hernandez's epic poem.)

This is a riotous romp taking the reader from the turbulent frontier culture of the pampas deep into indigenous territories. It charts the adventures of Mrs China Iron, Martin Fierro's abandoned wife, in her travels across the pampas in a covered wagon with her new-found friend, soon to become lover, a Scottish woman named Liz. While Liz provides China with a sentimental education and schools her in the nefarious ways of the British Empire, their eyes are opened to the wonders of Argentina's richly diverse flora and fauna, cultures and languages, as well as to its national struggles. After a clash with Colonel Hernandez (the author who 'stole' Martin Fierro's poems) and a drunken orgy with gauchos, they eventually find refuge and a peaceful future in a utopian indigenous community, the river- dwelling Inchin people.

Seen from an ox-drawn wagon, the narrative moves through the Argentinian landscape, charting the flora and fauna of the Pampas, Gaucho culture, Argentinian nation-building and British colonial projects.

In a unique reformulation of history and literary tradition, Gabriela Cabezon Camara, with humour and sophistication, re-writes Martin Fierro from a feminist, LGBT, postcolonial point of view. She creates a hilarious novel that is nevertheless incisive in its criticism of the way societies come into being, and the way they venerate mythical heroes.

EAN: 9781916465664

Languages: English