I the Supreme
Tags:
Set in Paraguay
Male author
Description:
I the Supreme imagines a dialogue between the nineteenth-century Paraguayan dictator known as Dr. Francia and Policarpo Patiño, his secretary and only companion. The opening pages present a sign that they had found nailed to the wall of a cathedral, purportedly written by Dr. Francia himself and ordering the execution of all of his servants upon his death. This sign is quickly revealed to be a forgery, which takes leader and secretary into a larger discussion about the nature of truth: “In the light of what Your Eminence says, even the truth appears to be a lie.” Their conversation broadens into an epic journey of the mind, stretching across the colonial history of their nation, filled with surrealist imagery, labyrinthine turns, and footnotes supplied by a mysterious “compiler.” A towering achievement from a foundational author of modern Latin American literature, I the Supreme is a darkly comic, deeply moving meditation on power and its abuse—and on the role of language in making and unmaking whole worlds.
Reviews:
(4 months ago) |
15 May, 2025
I read an un-edited translation, which was extremely difficult. Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and give it 4 stars. It is fascinating, disturbing, witty, and well-written. I recommend to anyone that likes a challenging read and can keep an open mind. There were many references that I did not understand. I saved this book for the last of my "Read Around the World: South America" challenge because I knew that it would require an understanding of South American history. Despite reading several history books in my journey around the continent, I was still underprepared for this one.
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Challenge:
Read Around South America Challenge
Country:
Paraguay
Paraguay
Language:
EN
Genre:
Historical fiction Historical
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