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The Eye of Cybele
Daniel Chavarría has long been recognized as one of Latin America's finest writers . . ."
—Edgar Award-winning author William Heffernan
Daniel Chavarría's most celebrated novel to date, The Eye of Cybele is the internationally acclaimed author's second book in English translation. The Eye is a tremendous literary accomplishment, an epic mystery set in ancient Greece in the time of Pericles. A mad priest and an entrancing whore join the likes of Alcibiades and Socrates in a quest for a lost jewel—the Dyndimenian Eye. Chavarría's knowledge of Greek history and command of language guide him masterfully through this stunning and highly original work. The novel has already won four literary awards around the Premio Ennio Flaiano Award (Italy); Premio Internacional Planeta-Joaquín Mortiz Award (Mexico); Premio del Ministerio de Educación y Cultura Award (Uruguay) and Premio de la Crítica Award (Cuba).
"Out of the mystery wrapped in an enigma that, over the last forty years, has been Cuba for the US, comes a voice so cheerful, a face so laughing, and a mind so deviously optimistic that we can only hope this is but the beginning of a flood of Latin America's indomitable novelists, playwrights, storytellers. Welcome, Daniel Chavarría."—Donald Westlake, author of Trust Me on This
"I recommend that we all do as Fidel likely light up a cigar and turn Chavarría's pages, with pleasure."
— Thomas Adcock, author of Grief Street
Daniel Chavarría is a Uruguayan writer whose novels, short stories, literary journalism, and screenplays have reached audiences across Latin America and Europe. For years, he was a professor of Latin, Greek, and Classical Literature. In 2001, Akashic published Adios Muchachos, Chavarría's first book in English translation.
Also available from Danieel Chavarría
Adios Muchachos
TP $13.95, 1-888451-16-5 • CUSA
—Edgar Award-winning author William Heffernan
Daniel Chavarría's most celebrated novel to date, The Eye of Cybele is the internationally acclaimed author's second book in English translation. The Eye is a tremendous literary accomplishment, an epic mystery set in ancient Greece in the time of Pericles. A mad priest and an entrancing whore join the likes of Alcibiades and Socrates in a quest for a lost jewel—the Dyndimenian Eye. Chavarría's knowledge of Greek history and command of language guide him masterfully through this stunning and highly original work. The novel has already won four literary awards around the Premio Ennio Flaiano Award (Italy); Premio Internacional Planeta-Joaquín Mortiz Award (Mexico); Premio del Ministerio de Educación y Cultura Award (Uruguay) and Premio de la Crítica Award (Cuba).
"Out of the mystery wrapped in an enigma that, over the last forty years, has been Cuba for the US, comes a voice so cheerful, a face so laughing, and a mind so deviously optimistic that we can only hope this is but the beginning of a flood of Latin America's indomitable novelists, playwrights, storytellers. Welcome, Daniel Chavarría."—Donald Westlake, author of Trust Me on This
"I recommend that we all do as Fidel likely light up a cigar and turn Chavarría's pages, with pleasure."
— Thomas Adcock, author of Grief Street
Daniel Chavarría is a Uruguayan writer whose novels, short stories, literary journalism, and screenplays have reached audiences across Latin America and Europe. For years, he was a professor of Latin, Greek, and Classical Literature. In 2001, Akashic published Adios Muchachos, Chavarría's first book in English translation.
Also available from Danieel Chavarría
Adios Muchachos
TP $13.95, 1-888451-16-5 • CUSA
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1993
5 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Chavarría
53 books57 followersDaniel Chavarria was an Uruguayan revolutionary and writer, who lived in Cuba since the 1960s.
Together with Justo E. Vasco received the award MININT in 1982 for Completo Camaguey, and in 1983 for Primero muerto.
Together with Justo E. Vasco received the award MININT in 1982 for Completo Camaguey, and in 1983 for Primero muerto.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 27, 2022
4,5 Απολαυστικότατο!
February 2, 2025
Κάτι από αστυνομικό της κλασικής αρχαιότητας, κάτι από ιστορική περιπλάνηση, λίγο Σωκρατική μαιευτική, μια γεύση από Ολυμπιακούς αγώνες, λίγο Ασπασία, όλα τα έχει ο μπαξές.
Περίεργο βιβλίο... (ή με έχει καταστρέψει η ανάγνωση των "χμουώργκ" περιπετειών του Τζακ Ρίτσερ).
Ενδιαφέρον, αλλά... άναρχο, πληθωρικό, εκκωφαντικό, μυστικιστικό, με παραπάνω από στοιχειώδεις γνώσεις της αρχαίας Ελληνικής γραμματείας... Ενδιαφέρον δε λέω. Αλλά χαοτικό, αλλοπρόσαλλο, βακχικό. Το διαβάζεις και φαντάζεσαι αυλητές να παίζουν πάνω από το κεφάλι σου, χειρότερα κι από πανηγυροκλαριντζήδες στα Δερβενοχώρια. Αλλά δε σε χαλάει.
Περίεργο βιβλίο... (ή με έχει καταστρέψει η ανάγνωση των "χμουώργκ" περιπετειών του Τζακ Ρίτσερ).
Ενδιαφέρον, αλλά... άναρχο, πληθωρικό, εκκωφαντικό, μυστικιστικό, με παραπάνω από στοιχειώδεις γνώσεις της αρχαίας Ελληνικής γραμματείας... Ενδιαφέρον δε λέω. Αλλά χαοτικό, αλλοπρόσαλλο, βακχικό. Το διαβάζεις και φαντάζεσαι αυλητές να παίζουν πάνω από το κεφάλι σου, χειρότερα κι από πανηγυροκλαριντζήδες στα Δερβενοχώρια. Αλλά δε σε χαλάει.
September 25, 2025
"El ojo de cibeles" de Daniel Chavarría es una novela ambientada en el mundo antiguo, donde los personajes son sacados de ese pedestal de gloria, donde los tiene la cultura popular, y los baja para ponerlos como a Sócrates cuando exponía sus doctrinas en el ágora: descalzo, con ojos salones y manto raído.
El autor nos muestra un mundo sucio, cegado por el fanatimo religioso y costumbres absurdas. Al tiempo que nos entreje una trama coral donde cada personaje tiene voz propia y un objetivo que no está dispuesto a soltar.
Lysis desea convertirse en la sirviente más debota de Afrodita la Vulgar, la madrina de las prostitutas. Farallon a pesar de su experiencia de vida al ser jefa de un burdel, cae en las redes de esta chiquilla de grandes pretenciones. Aspasia escribe cartas desesperadas a Eurídice, mientras ve a Kleis hacer locuras por amor y fanatismo. Alvibiades quiere estar en las bocas de los rapsoda, poetas y juglares por ser el ganador en Olimpia. Los filósofos sueltan sus conocimientos en las calles. Mientras que otros conspiran en las sombras para escapar de la esclavitud, enriquecerse a costa de los demás o hacerles comer polvo a sus enemigos.
Chavarría conocedor de la cultura y forma de vida la época, se explalla en una obra que para quienes no dominan el tema puede resultar densa y difícil de leer, sobre todo al principio. Sin embargo, las pequeña dosis de humor, escenas rápida y de tensión narrativa que se intercalan, funcionan como ganchos y momentos de impaz entre el tumulto de información.
Además los constante saltos entre personajes y tipos de narrador, sumado a un elenco tan varipinto, termina convirtiéndose en un impedimento para que el lector empatice con los personajes. Si a esto le sumamos la aparición constante de nuevos personajes y tramas de las cuales no se muestra una conexión, ni clara ni tenue, con la historia previa termina convirtiéndose en una amasigo que dan la sensación de estar leyendo escenas que no aportan y están allí para simple reyeno.
Las constantes notas al pie, aunque necesarias para una mejor compresión del texto, distraen al incauto lector cuyos ojos se vuelven unas alteradas pelota de pin-pong. Las redundancias, cortesías de una preocupada Aspasia, son otro punto negativo, ya que ella suele contar (contarnos) a Eurídice información que ya hemos obtenido de antemano.
En resumen "El ojo de cibeles" es un libro complejo no apto para todo público. Es perfectos para los fanáticos de Daniel Chavarría, quienes adoran las tramas complejas y amantes de la histórica y el mundo antigua. Asi que si no eres alguno de estos, lee esta historia bajo tu propio riesgo.
El autor nos muestra un mundo sucio, cegado por el fanatimo religioso y costumbres absurdas. Al tiempo que nos entreje una trama coral donde cada personaje tiene voz propia y un objetivo que no está dispuesto a soltar.
Lysis desea convertirse en la sirviente más debota de Afrodita la Vulgar, la madrina de las prostitutas. Farallon a pesar de su experiencia de vida al ser jefa de un burdel, cae en las redes de esta chiquilla de grandes pretenciones. Aspasia escribe cartas desesperadas a Eurídice, mientras ve a Kleis hacer locuras por amor y fanatismo. Alvibiades quiere estar en las bocas de los rapsoda, poetas y juglares por ser el ganador en Olimpia. Los filósofos sueltan sus conocimientos en las calles. Mientras que otros conspiran en las sombras para escapar de la esclavitud, enriquecerse a costa de los demás o hacerles comer polvo a sus enemigos.
Chavarría conocedor de la cultura y forma de vida la época, se explalla en una obra que para quienes no dominan el tema puede resultar densa y difícil de leer, sobre todo al principio. Sin embargo, las pequeña dosis de humor, escenas rápida y de tensión narrativa que se intercalan, funcionan como ganchos y momentos de impaz entre el tumulto de información.
Además los constante saltos entre personajes y tipos de narrador, sumado a un elenco tan varipinto, termina convirtiéndose en un impedimento para que el lector empatice con los personajes. Si a esto le sumamos la aparición constante de nuevos personajes y tramas de las cuales no se muestra una conexión, ni clara ni tenue, con la historia previa termina convirtiéndose en una amasigo que dan la sensación de estar leyendo escenas que no aportan y están allí para simple reyeno.
Las constantes notas al pie, aunque necesarias para una mejor compresión del texto, distraen al incauto lector cuyos ojos se vuelven unas alteradas pelota de pin-pong. Las redundancias, cortesías de una preocupada Aspasia, son otro punto negativo, ya que ella suele contar (contarnos) a Eurídice información que ya hemos obtenido de antemano.
En resumen "El ojo de cibeles" es un libro complejo no apto para todo público. Es perfectos para los fanáticos de Daniel Chavarría, quienes adoran las tramas complejas y amantes de la histórica y el mundo antigua. Asi que si no eres alguno de estos, lee esta historia bajo tu propio riesgo.
December 23, 2022
Θυμίζει Τσαβαρία και ταυτόχρονα δεν θυμίζει Τσαβαρία. Διαφορετικό από τα υπόλοιπα βιβλία του, που διαδραματίζονται στη σύγχρονη λατινική Αμερική, ή στο σύγχρονο κόσμο, Το Μάτι της Θεάς διαδραματίζεται στην Αρχαία Αθήνα της εποχής του Περικλή, της εποχής που η αρχαία Αθήνα βρίσκεται στο ψηλότερο σημείο της ακμής της, που κυριαρχεί στον Αρχαίο κόσμο, που είναι κέντρο πολιτικό, οικονομικό και πνευματικό. Από το μυθιστόρημα παρελαύνουν η Ασπασία, ο Αλκιβιάδης, ο Σωκράτης και άλλες λιγότερο γνωστές προσωπικότητες της εποχής, φιλοτεχνημένες από την πένα του συγγραφέα, με τον τρόπο που υποθέτω τους φαντάστηκε όταν εντρυφουσε στην αρχαία ελληνική ιστορία. Αναβιώνει μια ολόκληρη ιστορική περίοδο, γνωστή από τα σχολικά εγχειρίδια για τις προσωπικότητες και τα επιτεύγματα της, αλλά άγνωστη για τον καθημερινό της βίο. Το σκηνικό αυτό αποτελεί και το γοητευτικό στοιχείο του βιβλίου. Κατά τα άλλα, πολυπρόσωπο βιβλίο, πλήθος χαρακτήρων που κάνουν ένα πέρασμα από τις σελίδες του, ίντριγκα, σασπένς και μυστήριο. Η πλοκή είναι λίγο περισσότερη μπερδεμενη από ότι μου αρέσει, αλλά διατηρεί αρκετά ακόμη στοιχεία απολαυστικά.
October 21, 2024
Molto prolisso e pesante nella scrittura di una storia che altrimenti sarebbe potuta essere una buona lettura. Ma Chavarría da sempre non lo seguivo per questo. Dopo anni speravo in qualcosa. Cosa? Boh...
April 26, 2025
Μπα......
October 22, 2012
I really wanted to like this book, mainly because I had quite enjoyed Chavarría’s previous book in translation (Adios Muchacos) but this sprawling, erudite political mystery-cum-thriller set about 2500 years ago just did not work for me. This is not to undersell Chavarría’s skill – he has woven together known historical figures (Pericles, Alcibiades, Nicias, Solon and the like) with a rich cast of fictional characters (Lysis-also-known-as-Cleis, Truncheon, One Eye, Atys) to tell what should be fine tale of lust for power, envy, paranoia and greed; all excellent narrative drivers.
The problem is that whereas in Adios (a much shorter book) the red herrings and diversions enriched the tale, in this case they frustrate mainly because the novel is just so baggy that for large sections the central plot seems to be lost. For instance, Atys (an extremely frustrating character in part because he is non-Greek and Chavarría writes his chapters in the disjointed broken form of a non-native speaker, but applies this not only to his speech but the entire chapter – such are the risks of internal monologues that verge on stream of consciousness) is allocated several chapters in the first half of the book, but his main role seems to be his impact and influence on other characters. This is then combined with Chavarría’s tendency to write long stream-of-consciousness chapters where it is not clear which of the many characters (fewer than it seems because many characters have more than one name) we are with, only to reveal at the end that he has just introduced a new or marginal character. What is more frustrating is that although I have a reasonable grasp of the historical context – ancient Athens, the Peloponnesian War, the ancient Olympics and all, this did not help.
All in all then this is a saggy, baggy shaggy dog story – a form I often enjoy – but it just does not hold together for me although I am sure for other is will: it is certainly smart, learned, and something for the well-read. Alas, it just did not work for me.
The problem is that whereas in Adios (a much shorter book) the red herrings and diversions enriched the tale, in this case they frustrate mainly because the novel is just so baggy that for large sections the central plot seems to be lost. For instance, Atys (an extremely frustrating character in part because he is non-Greek and Chavarría writes his chapters in the disjointed broken form of a non-native speaker, but applies this not only to his speech but the entire chapter – such are the risks of internal monologues that verge on stream of consciousness) is allocated several chapters in the first half of the book, but his main role seems to be his impact and influence on other characters. This is then combined with Chavarría’s tendency to write long stream-of-consciousness chapters where it is not clear which of the many characters (fewer than it seems because many characters have more than one name) we are with, only to reveal at the end that he has just introduced a new or marginal character. What is more frustrating is that although I have a reasonable grasp of the historical context – ancient Athens, the Peloponnesian War, the ancient Olympics and all, this did not help.
All in all then this is a saggy, baggy shaggy dog story – a form I often enjoy – but it just does not hold together for me although I am sure for other is will: it is certainly smart, learned, and something for the well-read. Alas, it just did not work for me.
July 31, 2011
A mystery novel that takes place in ancient Greece during the time of Socrates. While I struggled to keep track of the different characters — some with multiple names I didn't know how to pronounce — I found it contained some of the most stimulating erotic narrative I've ever read. The author defends herself at the beginning of the book, asserting that this is fiction based on actual people, and includes a glossary at the back with the historical facts on which her fiction was based. This novel came to my list from the Seattle Public Library's reading list "If you like Arturo Perez-Reverte…", and was also endorsed by librarian Nancy Pearl in Book Lust in the reading list "The Classical World".
September 15, 2012
I adore this novel though I admit it has its faults. Set in Pericles'time, it mixes historical characters (Socrates, Aspasia, Alcibiades...) with imaginary ones in a mystery story where everybody is looking for the same thing for very different reasons. Philosophy, sex, violence, intrigue and religious fanaticism, and very different narrative styles, combine to make a very exciting novel with a surprise ending :D
February 24, 2011
This was a slog, but I can't say I didn't like it. The plot is rambling, and it switches gears entirely for the last 40 pages. However, the strength of the characterization (and all, ALL the classical references) make it worth a read if you love DRY historical fiction.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews