The Buried Mirror: Reflections on Spain and the New World

Los espejos simbolizan la realidad............. De los espejos de obsidiana de la urbe totonaca de El Tajin a los espejos ibericos de Cervantes y Velasquez, el de la locura y el del asombro, un intercambio de reflejos ha ido y venido incesantemente de una a otra orilla del Atlantico. (Excerpted from the back cover of the book). Such reflejos are the subject of the book, which is listed as an essay (ensayo) among the works of Mexican author Carlos Fuentes, but which should really be classified under the subject of History in that it traces the development of the Spanish speaking people from prehistory to modern times. The book consists of 18 chapters as follows: "La Virgen y el Toro" (the Cretan and Greek roots); "La Conquista de Espana" (by Cartage and Rome); "La Reconquista de Espana" (by the Barbarians, later by the Moors); "1492: El Ano Cruzal" (the expulsion of the Moors by the Catholic kings, and the discovery of the New World); "Vida y Muerte del Mundo Indigena" (the natives of North America, Cortes and Moctezuma); "La Conquista y la Reconquista del Nuevo Mundo" (the conquest of the New World, the new towns, the universities, the new religion); "La Era Imperial" (the problems with the administration of the New World, the defeat of the Spanish armada by Francis Drake); "El Siglo de Oro" (literature and art in imperial Spain - Cervantes, Calderon de la Barca, Velasquez, Tirso de Molina, Francisco de Zurbaran); "El Barroco del Nuevo Mundo" (problems and unrest in the New World, Aleijadinho, Juana Ines de la Cruz); "La Epoca de Goya" (Melchor Gaspar de Jovellanos and Francisco de Goya y Lucientes); "Hacia la Endependencia: Multiples Mascaras y Aguas Turbias" (the unrest among the Creoles and the desire for independence); El Precio de la Libertad: Simon Bolivar y Jose de San Martin" (the expulsion of Spain from Latin America); "El Tiempo de los Tiranos" (Juan Manuel de Rosas in Argentina, Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia in Paraguay, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, Benito Juarez and Maximilian and Carlota in Mexico); "La cultura de la Independencia" (Latin America looks back at Spain while neglecting the local Indians and blacks, Argentine gaucho Jose Hernandez and his poem Martin Fierro, Cuban writer and patriot Jose Martin, Mexican cartoonist Jose Guadalupe Posada); "Tierra y Libertad"(The Mexican revolution of 1910, Emiliano Zapata and Pancho Villa); "Latinoamerica" (the general situation and problems of modern day Latin America); La Espana Contemporanea" (the general situation and problems of modern day Spain); La Hispanidad Norteamericana" (a very interesting chapter providing statistics on the total number of Hispanics as well as the number of Hispanic illegals in the United States, describing the invaluable contribution of the Hispanic people to the US economy and more). El Espejo Enterrado may be listed as an essay, it may be classified as a history book, yet it is more than that, because Carlos Fuentes is more than an essayer

Reviewing a book that i received, have not read it, but it's in great condition and shipping was very quick. Thank you.

This is by far the best book I have encountered that deals with Spanish and Latin American culture. Fuentes is at once poetic and historically fluente. The book moves smoothly, and the subjects with which it deals (which may be made boring by a less skilled writer) always hold the reader's attention. It's better written in Spanish, but the translation is pretty good too. If you like any of Fuentes' other works, or are simply interested in Hispanic culrture and philosphy, buy this one.

"EL ESPEJO ENTERRADO" ES UN LIBRO QUE NO PUEDES DEJAR DE LEER. TIENES QUE TOMARTE UN TIEMPO PARA LEERLO Y APRENDER DE O RECORDAR LA HISTORIA DE TODO AMERICA.

Its a shame more exceptional fiction authors don't take the time to research and publish historical accounts. If the results were as good as Fuentes', many more people would take the time to read it. Ideal for both scholars and anyone looking for an excellent read. Fuentes outlines the progression of Spanish culture from Europe to the New World and the devastating impact it had on the civilizations already living their. While clearly detailing the inherent evil in the actions of the Spanish and English in the New World, Fuentes moves the reader through the evolution of political, societal and cultural development, illustrating the way in which separate cultures evolved into a rich fabric, albeit painfully. Fuentes objectively writes history neither indicting nor rewarding, rather recounting historical occurence and its impact on today's South, Central, and North American peoples as well as the Spanish.