Argentina’s modern history has been marked by violence. Instability in the 1960s and ‘70s culminated with a military coup in ‘76. In an attempt to secure power the ruling junta ‘disappeared’ thousands of its critics and opponents. The Dirty War, as it became known, cast a shadow over Argentine history and identity.
Born in Buenos Aires in 1962 Carlos Gamerro grew up with the junta firmly in power. He saw the nation go to war over the Falkland Islands in ‘82. As he himself put it: “I am the class of ‘62, the class that went to war, but I didn’t go to the war”. Increasing public pressure saw the military slowly cede power, culminating in free and open elections in October ‘83.
This successful transition to democracy brought issues of its own. Though commissions were established to uncover the true history of The Dirty War pressure from the military and fear of a coup saw amnesties and pardons issued. The military dictatorship of ‘76-83 continued to prove problematic as subsequent governments attempted to deal with its actions and their repercussions.
A product of his own environment many of Carlos’ works drew on Argentina’s recent history for inspiration. The Islands tells the story of Felipe Félix and, by extension, the Falklands war, The Dirty War, and those who were affected by these events.
A veteran of the Falklands Félix has been left with a constant reminder of his service thanks to a piece of shrapnel in his head. While he now makes his life as a professional hacker he has remained close with many of the men he served with. Many of these relationships are beneficial, especially when a Dr Tamerlán hires Félix to track down the witnesses to his son’s murder of an apparently unknown man.
Using some of his old contacts Félix begins the search in earnest. The trail is far from simple though and he soon finds himself trawling through his nation’s dirty past in search of a Major X. One of the many torturers operating during The Dirty War this illusive figure disappeared into the Falklands war and the anonymity of the army.
Delving into the nightmarish depths of the worst of Argentina’s recent history Félix perseveres in his search. Using dark satire and wit The Islands has been compared with the infamous Catch-22.
There are probably stronger similarities between Joseph Heller's classic satire and Gamerro's latest work, The Busts of Eva Perón.
Set in '75, with Argentina on the cusp of The Dirty War, this novel follows Ernesto Marroné as he attempts to fulfil a bizarre ransom demand. Fausto Tamerlán, the head of Argentina's leading construction company and Marroné's boss, has been kidnapped. Part of the guerilla's demands is that a bust of Eva Perón be placed in each of Tamerlán & Sons' 92 offices and. As head of procurement this task falls to Marroné.
Accompanied only by his copy of Don Quixote Marroné traverses the myriad worlds of 1975 Argentina in order to complete this outlandish quest. In the process we are exposed to Argentina's revolutionary history and the dark future it is looking toward in '75.
The Busts of Eva Perón is a surreal satire of one of the darkest points in Argentina's often nightmarish history. A brilliant story inviting you to chuckle in the face of horror.
Talking Books’ Susan Cahill spoke with Carlos Gamerro at the Irish, Spanish, and Latin American Literary Festival about his life, writings, and how writing can help to exorcise the terrible ghosts of history. As Carlos himself put it: “The awful thing about a nightmare is that when it gets too bad you wake up, but you’re never sure it has ended...one of the places you can wake up to is fiction. Fiction is where you can definitely create things.”
This week's music to read to
Gustavo Santaollaya's "De Ushusia a la Quiaca" opens the show and brings part one to a close with the show ending on Ryan Teague's "Causeway".
