The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman ~ Louis de Bernieres

The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman ~ Louis de Bernieres

Medium soft cover
Good condition

Louis de Bernières The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman is the final installment in his Latin American trilogy, following The War of Don Emmanuels Nether Parts and Señor Vivo and the Coca Lord. Set in a fictional South American country inspired by Colombia, the novel blends magic realism with political satire, portraying the absurdities and brutalities of authoritarian regimes. The story centers on the town of Cochadebajo de los Gatos, a haven of eccentricity and resilience, where ex-soldiers, unfrocked priests, and beer-scented cats coexist in defiance of the corrupt powers that seek to suppress them.

Cardinal Guzman, a sadistic and hypocritical church leader, views the town as a hotbed of heresy and launches a crusade to crush its spirit. His campaign is met with resistance from a cast of colorful characters, including a ghostly Thomas Aquinas and a scholarly fake priest, culminating in a surreal and symbolic confrontation. Through farce, tragedy, and lyrical storytelling, de Bernières critiques political violence, religious dogma, and the fragility of democracy, while celebrating the vitality of communal life and the enduring power of myth.