Doña Barbara

by Rómulo Gallegos

Book Overview

R mulo Gallegos is best known for being Venezuela's first democratically elected president. But in his native land he is equally famous as a writer responsible for one of Venezuela's literary treasures, the novel Do a Barbara. Published in 1929 and all but forgotten by Anglophone readers, Do a Barbara is one of the first examples of magical realism, laying the groundwork for later authors such as Gabriel Garc a M rquez and Mario Vargas...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0226279200
• ISBN13: 9780226279206
• Release Date: May 2012
• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 1.07 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.2" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Powerful and beautiful

Romulo Gallegos, one of the best South American writers, splendidly describes the Venezuelan plains and the passionate love that emerges there. Dona Barbara -a ruthless and tough woman once hurt by men- symbolizes the wildness of the plains and Santos Luzardo -the polite and sensitive doctor from the city- the opposite side of the same coin. They meet at the plains and develop a wonderful story of love and power, surrounded by the most beautyful landscapes of the world: The venezuelan plains.You wont be able to put it down!

You won't be able to put it down

It is impossible not to be mesmerized by the witchy Dona Barbara. Her misterious and sinister personality, unusual in itself, was even more incredible considering that the story takes place in the Venezuelan llanos (plains), a male domain, and at a time when a woman's place was considered to be at home. Even if you don't like the story, which I found wonderful, the character of Dona Barbara alone is reason enough for buying this book. The ending is also great, it couldn't have been better.

Intensísima por las vivencias extremas de los personajes

Gran obra maestra que describe la psicología y entorno del Llano Venezolano. Contiene múltiples valores contrapuestos que la hacen extremadamente intensa, la bravura armada del llano frente a la defensa de la ley; la codicia y seducción sexual como arma, frente a la ética y el respeto a la comunidad; el odio de vendetas familiares frente a la necesidad de reconciliación para hacer frente al enemigo común; la racionalidad del hombre educado frente a la supertición popular. Describe magistral las experiencias del llano venezolano, comparándolas de forma poética con los sentimientos y valores de los personajes.

There are no words to describe this book!!

I'm a man with no luck, because I read this book 4 years ago and I still remember it from head to tail! I remember that when I finished it I was just... just as now, wiyh no words. The book is wonderfully writen and it describes perfectly those venezuelan landscapes, the atmosphere that you feel when you're there, and the diference between those two caracters and their minds. This book is one of the greatest classics on venezuelan literature.