Mecha IturbeStockcero, Inc, 2007 - 240 páginas Mecha Iturbe, published in Buenos Aires in 1906, is the most ambitious and longest of César Duáyen's five novels about the transformation of Argentina into a contemporary state in the early part of the 20th century. César Duáyen, pseudonym of Emma de la Barra (1861-1947), was the author of Argentina's best seller, Stella of 1905, and Mecha Iturbe, too, was greeted with great excitement. A record number of copies were printed, and the author was paid an unprecedented amount. There were many editions, but none has been available in recent years. In Mecha Iturbe, elements of national reform and modernization are portrayed and debated in an even more complicated failed love story, also set in both Buenos Aires (drawing rooms, congress, the opera, a labor union rally) and in a utopian factory town. The central character, Mecha Iturbe, has just come from Europe so Argentina must be explained to her, and shown to her. But Mecha, from whose point of view everything is seen, is a very traditional Argentine-born woman who resists modernization --she likes being an upper class, affluent, Catholic conservative, she likes organizing charity balls and buying fashionable new clothes-- and who has the misfortune to fall in love with a reform-minded, idealistic medical doctor who expects her to want to change and improve Argentina. The other major woman character is a surgeon, who eventually marries an up and coming politician and labor leader, but continues to practice medicine. With a prologue and notes by Mary G. Berg, this novel would be a discussion-provoking addition to any class on Argentine, Southern Cone or Latin American 20th century history, women's studies, or literature |
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Términos y frases comunes
admira amigos análisis aparecía Argentina Barra barrio obrero belleza Buenos Aires caballero calle cambios Canto cara Caras y Caretas carrera carruaje del presidente Cecilia Grierson César Duáyen ciones cirujana Ciudad Obrera clase alta comunidad utópica concurrencia conectarse contestole Cristián Rivera Cruz Roja Daniel edecán edición educación Eleonora Elisa Funes Emma época escuela Esperanza Europa éxito explora familia Frederick gentina gración Guarango hablaba Hellen hermano hija Himno historias de amor hospital ideología inglés inteligente Itahú joven maestra jóvenes Lea Fletcher lord Palmers madre Malena mamá Manuel Millares Marsellesa Maucci Mizraje modelo modernización momento mujeres mundo música nación Nacional Nari narrativa niños Noruega novelas de César novelas de Duáyen nueva ojos óperas Pablo Herrera padres palco patria personaje central Plaza de Mayo política preguntole primera progreso proyecto público pueblo representa República rrativa sala salud siglo veinte silencio sociales sociedad argentina sonriendo Teatro Colón tecnología tradición tradicional ulster Villapandos voz tranquila
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Página xix - un inglés que ocupaba el puesto hacía dieciocho años" (193), imponiendo su orden: "como buen inglés sabía respetar y hacer respetar las leyes públicas y privadas" (196). Su médico es alemán, sus amigos son suecos, noruegos, franceses, ingleses. Hablan de la hora cuando se sirve "el lunch" (87) y se sienten "gentlemen