The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman

Unfortunately this ends the series. I want to keep reading about these crazy people. This is a trilogy that MUST be read in order (1. The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts; 2. Senor Vivo and the Coca Lord). Without the first two parts, this book will make no sense at all. The author managed to hold my attention through all three volumes (most series seem to tail off after the first one). Though the books are commentaries on South American government/military/society they are driven by the characters. You can mentally see them as they go through the pleasures, pitfalls & perils of their lives. I was sorry to see the story end.

de Bernieres is one of the great writers of our time. His range is incredible, his prose superb!

The last book in the Latin America trilogy, and all were page turners and a pleasure to read.

A melange of light fantasy with history can provide entertaining reading. In hands of an innovative stylist like de Bernieres, the read is far more - "invigorating" becomes a soft term. His facile style and comprehensive imagination produces a story of limitless value. While steeped in the real world, he introduces a new version of what has been termed "magical reality". Events have a historical base, characters are real, or are at least plausible composites. You are reading history through only slightly distorting spectacles. The deformation allows him to shift from history to parody. Under his skillful touch, nothing in the image is lost, but a wealth of insight is gained.In this final volume of a trilogy, he depicts the life of a Latin American cardinal - a "prince of the church". Guzman suffers terrible pains and horrific visions. Demons, each with a particular role to play, appear to torment him. He's virtually incapacitated during these attacks. The ministrations of his mistress, Conception [what else?], are futile attempts at the application of folk medicine. Only their son, Cristobal, seems capable of alleviating the Cardinal's agonies. Yet even this happy therapy provides fresh challenges to the cleric. Guzman's familial problems aren't limited to this illegitimate child.Key chapters in this volume are comprised of a letter to the Cardinal from The Holy Office. The letter aptly summarises the career and impact of the Church in his domain. It's a wonderfully scathing account of the hypocrisies perpetrated upon people in the name of divinity. Part of Guzman's tribulations relate to the letter and its account of the country. You will be returned to it from time to time.While the Cardinal suffers, the population of a mythical city, Cochadebajo de los Gatos [look it up] find themselves under siege. They have a special relationship with the region's jaguar population, who act as an enlarged, and rather more accommodating, version of the domestic house cat. The siege allows de Bernieres to introduce yet another anomalous character in the person of the British Ambassador. After reading about his antics and treatment by the locals, it says something for British forbearance that de Bernieres was allowed to take up a Londonresidence.De Bernieres' view of Latin America is, dare it be said, "catholic". He incorporates the Conquistidore traditions, the mixed roles of the Church, from hierarchical absolutist through evangelical zealots to radical Marxist reformers. The Indian population, mestizos, a lone Mexican, legions of peasants, aloof aristocrats all enter the stage. Few leave unbesmirched, usually through their own actions. Even the nation's President and his bizarre wife are woven adroitly into the narrative. No leader of a "banana republic" could suffer more at the hands of rebel forces than President Veracruz. De Bernieres gives him a slogan rich in irony, given the circumstances: "Democracy Is Safe In Our Hands".This author has produced a string of successful works, with each seeming to outshine the preceding volume. Having accidentally picked up the third volume of this trilogy, it lost nothing in the reading due to ignorance of the previous books. Take up this, or any of de Bernieres books, secure in the knowledge that you will be shocked, entertained, enlightened and pleased you made the choice. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

I love Louis de Bernieres’s use of English. He writes vivid sentences that combine the perfect words in such a natural, unforced way, that the clarity is shocking to the reader. At least that’s my experience with him. This is probably why I can continue reading his overlong books, despite becoming a little bored with the events they depict. This has been the case with all three of the books in this trilogy. (The only other work of his I’ve read is CORELLI’S MANDOLIN and it is quite different from these. I’m assuming that he moved on from this particular style. At least, I hope so.) There are lots of things I did not like about this book. First of all, there are too many characters and many of them have similar sounding Spanish names that made it often hard to tell them apart. There are several stories going on that don’t really connect, and the many plots all compete for the reader’s attention. Instead of showing lots of events happening simultaneously, it just comes off as jumping back and forth between stories. There is not really a clear protagonist. And while I’m at it, exactly WHO are “the troublesome offspring of Cardinal Guzman”? As far as I could tell, he had two offspring: one was a grotesque “tumor” and the other was a sweet little boy (who is later transformed into a hummingbird after he is murdered}. I need something to keep me reading. This time it was will power.I also did not like the scenes of violence and sadism. I’d had quite enough of that in the previous volume.However, there are passages throughout the book that struck me as wonderful. There were several times I laughed out loud. And there’s at least one phrase I’m going to adopt and over-use: “egregiously pretentious.” (I live in Downtown New York, so I have many occasions to use it.)This seems to have been an experiment on the author’s part to emulate Salman Rushdie. (I don’t know that; I’m just guessing.) Those who are already fans of de Bernieres may enjoy reading an early experiment, but I would be loath to recommend this trilogy to someone who had never read him before. Three stars.

This combination of magic realism and British humour is just great. I loved it.

You must read. Start with Don Emmanuel's Nether Regions, the Senor Vivo and the Coca Lords, and by the time you close this book, you will have felt like you have gone somewhere far away- and met amazing people. His writing is THAT fantastic.

A damn fine book. I really enjoy his style of writing, couldn't put it down! Mixed with some historical evidence I learned something too.

Let me lay my cards on the table. I have had more enjoyment reading Louis de Bernieres South American trilogy (of which this is the last) than any other book series. Ever. The juxtapositioning of farcical humour and searing heart ache is like a drug. I burst out loud reading of Don Emmanuel's entertainment of the British Ambassador. I had to stop and control myself when reading of the child deaths at the hands of the Catholic brigands. This is no ordinary author. This is no ordinary trilogy. The manner de Bernieres weaves matter-of-factness with ridiculous magic makes this book series like a new kingdom to explore. Do Jaguars really smell of strawberries and like chocolate? Do itinerate preachers levitate mid sermon? How do you control fifty Spanish Conquistadors that have just been defrosted from 300 years in a glacier? I have no idea where his ideas have come from. Coca leaves, perhaps? Just one important instruction (brought about by the frequent and brief references to previous chapters) - you must read the trilogy in the correct order: The War Of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts Senor Vivo and the Coca Lord The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman

Very good insight to the people of the area

De Berniere's writing is just a joy to read. This story, the later part of a South American series, melds reality with a hint of the spiritual in what I assume is a Latin American style. His use of native ghosts and of jaguars as supernatural forces of good blends well into the narrative. He just loves his characters and is empathetic to even those who commit grievous crimes without condoning their actions; he accepts them for who they are. The world he creates, although it harbours severe cruelty and great sadness, in a hypothetical South American failed or failing state, is one that seems supremely logical and is always tempered by justice and love.

Reading!

This is the third in the series which starts with The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts. It is the bloodiest of the three I think. Explains a lot about how zealots take over. Beautifully written and crafted as always. One minute you are cracking up and the next you are just reeling with horror. Only Louis de Bernieres can pull this off.