El espejo enterrado

by Carlos Fuentes

An exploration of Spanish culture in Spain and the Americas traces the social, political, and economic forces that created that culture.

Genres: History, Spanish Literature, Nonfiction, Spain, Latin American, Literature, Classics

590 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Carlos Fuentes Macías was a Mexican writer and one of the best-known novelists and essayists of the 20th century in the Spanish-speaking world. Fuentes influenced contemporary Latin American literature, and his works have been widely translated into English and other languages.

Fuentes was born in Panama City, Panama; his parents were Mexican. Due to his father being a diplomat, during his childhood he lived in Montevideo, Rio de Janeiro, Washington, Santiago, and Buenos Aires. In his adolescence, he returned to Mexico, where he lived until 1965. He was married to film star Rita Macedo from 1959 till 1973, although he was an habitual philanderer and allegedly, his affairs - which he claimed include film actresses such as Jeanne Moreau and Jean Seberg - brought her to despair. The couple ended their relationship amid scandal when Fuentes eloped with a very pregnant and then-unknown journalist named Silvia Lemus. They were eventually married.

Following in the footsteps of his parents, he also became a diplomat in 1965 and served in London, Paris (as ambassador), and other capitals. In 1978 he resigned as ambassador to France in protest over the appointment of Gustavo Diaz Ordaz, former president of Mexico, as ambassador to Spain. He also taught courses at Brown, Princeton, Harvard, Penn, George Mason, Columbia and Cambridge.

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کارلوس فوئنتس در ۱۱ نوامبر ۱۹۲۸ در پاناماسیتی به دنیا آمد. مادرش برتا ماسیاس ریواس و پدرش رافائل فوئنتس بوئه‌تیگر است. پدر وی از دیپلمات‌های مشهور مکزیک است. وی سفیر مکزیک در هلند، پاناما، پرتغال و ایتالیا بود.

دوران کودکی‌اش در واشنتگتن دی.سی. و سانتیاگوی شیلی گذشت. فوئنتس در دانشگاه مکزیک و ژنو در رشتهٔ حقوق تحصیل کرد. او به زبان‌های انگلیسی و فرانسه تسلط کامل دارد.

آثار
* مرگ آرتمیوکروز، ۱۹۶۲
* آئورا، ۱۹۶۲
* زمین ما،‌ ۱۹۷۵
* گرینگوی پیر، ۱۹۸۵
* ملکهٔ عروسک‌ها
* آسوده خاصر، ترجمهٔ محمدامین لاهیجی.
* مرگ آرتمیو کروز، ترجمهٔ مهدی سحابی.
* آئورا، ترجمهٔ عبدالله کوثری.
* سرهیدا.
* خودم با دیگران (به تازگی با نام از چشم فوئنتس) ترجمهٔ عبدالله کوثری.


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Carlos Fuentes Macías fue un escritor mexicano y uno de los novelistas y ensayistas más conocidos en el mundo de habla española. Fuentes influyó en la literatura contemporánea de América Latina, y sus obras han sido ampliamente traducidas al inglés y otros idiomas.

Fuentes nació en la ciudad de Panamá, Panamá, sus padres eran mexicanos. Debido a su padre era un diplomático, durante su infancia vivió en Montevideo, Río de Janeiro, Washington, Santiago y Buenos Aires. En su adolescencia regresó a México, donde vivió hasta 1965. Estuvo casado con la estrella de cine Rita Macedo de 1959 hasta 1973, aunque era un mujeriego habitual y, al parecer, sus asuntos - que se ha cobrado incluyen actrices como Jeanne Moreau y Jean Seberg, su llevados a la desesperación. La pareja terminó su relación en medio del escándalo, cuando Fuentes se fugó con un periodista muy embarazada y entonces desconocido de nombre Silvia Lemus. Se casaron finalmente.

Siguiendo los pasos de sus padres, también se convirtió en un diplomático en 1965 y sirvió en Londres, París (como embajador), y otras capitales. En 1978 renunció al cargo de embajador en Francia en protesta por el nombramiento de Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, ex presidente de México, como embajador en España.

Reviews

[Hector Arteaga · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very disappointed with Carlos Fuentes' focus in this book. The majority of his research and writing focuses on what Spain gave the continent, but he fails to do the same research on the indigenous cultures. If you are going to credit the Mediterranean cultures for some of the political and cultural contributions to Spain; perhaps you can do the same for the original inhabitants of the American continent. I understand that as a writer and scholar of the Spanish language he perhaps focused his research on Spain, but I would expect the same work be done on his country at least. I generally enjoy Fuentes' stories, though this book is well written, I believe it was poorly researched. I look forward towards to the day where the Spanish Language "Intellectuals" will present a more balance view of our cultures.

[MissBecka Gee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is basically a textbook.
Were there interesting bits inside?
Of course!
Did it take me literal YEARS to read this badboy?
Also yes.

[David Layton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mexico's most famous novelist wrote this companion book to his PBS documentary series. The book, however, is much more than just a reprint of the narrative script. It is, in fact, a work in its own right that goes much deeper into the matters talked about in the documentary. Fuentes calls this book a biography of his culture, so even though it is about history, it is not a work of pure history. Fuentes' makes his themes abundantly clear from the first chapter: Spanish culture is an unstable mixture of Iberian, Celtic, Roman, and Arabic influences that shape both its greatest achievements and its deepest problems. When Spaniards entered the Americas, they took this mix with them and added the Amerindian cultures. This gets further complicated by the influence of US culture in the 19th and 20th centuries. As Fuentes sees it, the 500 years of misrule and missed opportunity that constitute Latin American history derive from an inability to balance the contending cultural forces at work. Nevertheless, Latin America was able to produce great works of art and literature while accommodating and assimilating a complex interaction of ideas about society, government, and how things work in general. Readers may disagree with some of Fuentes' interpretations of historical events and may at times balk at some of the broader statements he makes about cultures and historical forces; however, Fuentes is still able to weave an interesting story and to avoid most of the political posturing that often accompanies assessments of Latin American history.

[Armin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hat meinen Horizont enorm erweitert, ideale spirituelle Ergänzung zu Micheners Texas, Karibik, aber auch ein Schlüssel zu zahlreichen Klassikern der europäischen Tradition. Ausführliche Rezi folgt.

[Jacqueline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spanish and Latin American History.. a little eurocentric

[Stosch · Rating 3 out of 5]

made of good paper, nice pictures but author reaches too much . not into the whole explanation of art. if thats your thing youll love this book.

[Shrook · Rating 3 out of 5]

اعجبني غلاف الكتاب :- اللوحة الأشهر والاكثر جدلا لرسام اسبانيا الأكثر شهرة بابلو بيكاسو وهي الغرنيكا
مقدمة الكاتب التي أوضح فيها علاقة المرآة بالاساطير القديمة والذات ثم يناقش بعد ذلك احتلال الرومان لأسبانيا وكيف أضافت روما لأسبانيا في المؤسسات القانونية وطورت من أنظمتها وأدخلت علي الفن ويناقش فكرة الفن الروماني عامة والرسالة العامة للفن
يليها بالغزو الإسلامي لأسبانيا والتي ابخسها الكاتب حقها وأطلق عليهم المورو فهو لم يبين بالحيادية الكاملة كيف أثري الاسلام الاندلس والمناطق الأخري وكيف أثر عليها بل كان منحازا في الكتاب ككل لليهود فلقد ذكر فظائع الملك الاسباني تجاه اليهود ولكنه لم يمر حتي علي جرائمهم تجاه المسلمين وكيف قتلوهم واخرجوهم من ديارهم وطردوهم
ثم يأتي بعد ذلك ويناقش اعتلاء أسرة بسبورج للعرش ثم انتهاءهم واعتلاء أسرة بوربون التاج التي قضت علي قوة اسبانيا نهائيا بضعفها ومحاكم التفتيش وكيف كانت أداة في يد الملوك للتخلص من أعدائهم والسيطرة علي مزيد من الأموال وانفتاح اسبانيا علي العالم وحلم غزو العالم واكتشاف الأمريكتين والمستعمرات الاسبان أمريكية ويناقش ثقافات الهنود التي كانت سائدة وقتها قبل مجيئهم
في المستعمرات يوضح حالة التردي والعبودية ثم بدء تجارة العبيد ومجيء السود وحركات الاستقلال التي ظهرت ثم أخيرا ينال كل جزء استقلاله
بعد الاستقلال يصف التخبط الذي عاشته كل دولة فثورة من أجل الحرية يعقبها ديكتاتور يمارس القمع والاستغلال فالثورات لم تحقق نتائجها المرجوة وتدخل الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية في شؤونهم بعد إعلانها المصير المعلن ورغبتها في التوسع
واخيرا يعرض الهجرة غير الشرعية المكسيكيين خصوصا وباقي أفراد امريكا اللاتينيه وعلاقة امريكا بامريكا اللاتينية
(الترجمة كانت تحتاج لبعض المراجعة)

[Hana Al-Harastani · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read this for one of my college courses and honestly, I was not a very big fan of it.

The professor used this to teach us about Spanish history, and I do not believe this was a good book to choose. Though the text is very rich and insightful, Fuentes is very bias against certain cultures, using much negative connotation. He would pick and choose what he wanted to talk about and leave out other major contributions depending on what he favored.

The only thing that was good about the book was the thorough research done. I've never seen a book this explicit about a certain country, going through every major event and following a culture as they moved and evolved.

Thus, three stars should suffice. 2.5 if you want to be specific.

[Ali Alaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

ترجمة الراحل علي المنوفي رائعة
اما عن فوينتس نفسه فقد ابدع وكشف لي عن جوانب جديدة في الحضارة اللاتينية وعن اساطيرها اما عن احب الفصول الي قلبي الفصول التي كانت تنبض بالثورة كالفصل الذي تكلم فيه عن سيمون بوليفار وسان مارتين
والكتاب ايضا يفند الغزو الاسباني وكيفيه سقوط الامبراطورية الاسبانية ومع هذا كله يطرح سؤال : لماذا عاشت دول امريكا اللاتينة حالة من التخلف والفقر و الدكتاتورية وهي ليست بدكتاتورية راجعه للقرن العشرين بل تمتد جذورها مع لحظات التحرر والاستقلال

يعاب علي فوينتس عدم ذكره للمسلمين الا باستخدام لفظ المورو ،وايضا اهتمامه الشديد بطرد اليهود مع عدم النظر لمحاكم التفتيش التي حدثت لليهود والمسلمين
معا والمرور السريع علي الحضارة الاسلامية
لكن لكتاب بمجمله ممتاز

[William Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a relative novice when it comes to the history of Spain and Spanish culture in the America's. So Fuentes's reflections on the legacy and culture of Spain came off to me as a great introduction to this subject. His detail to culture and art and the legacy of Spain on a Meta level was particularly attractive. Fuentes's ode to Iberian civilization as an ever changing blend of Latin, Christian, European, and indigenous American cultures is a must read for anyone new to the history of Spain and Latin America.

[Sudenly · Rating 5 out of 5]

La historia de América de por sí es fascinante, de la mano de Carlos Fuentes descubrimos más que acontecimientos y fechas, vemos todas esas cosas por las que están influenciadas y nos recuerda que estos hechos no están aislados... A través del arte, literatura e incluso arquitectura nos explica el origen histórico de nuestra identidad y el éxito de la continuidad cultural de hispanoamérica.

[Alejandro Teruel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maravillosa reflexión sobre el desarrollo de la cultura hispana e hispanoamericana. ¡Muy recomendado!

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fine overview of the histories and cultures of Spain, Mexico, Central America, and South America. The best part is all of the vibrant artwork and photos of architecture.

[Félix Steves · Rating 5 out of 5]

En "El espejo enterrado", Carlos Fuentes despliega un vasto lienzo que abarca quinientos años, iniciando con la llegada de Cristóbal Colón y la consiguiente transformación del mundo hispánico. Esta obra se erige como una reflexión histórica profunda y multifacética, donde el autor entrelaza la riqueza de las civilizaciones prehispánicas con las narrativas de conquistadores y sacerdotes españoles, creando un diálogo vibrante entre el pasado y el presente.

Fuentes no se limita a un mero recuento de hechos; su enfoque analítico se compenetra con una imaginación desbordante, lo que permite al lector vislumbrar no solo la conquista militar, sino también una transformación espiritual y cultural. Al avanzar del siglo XVI hacia nuestros días, el autor habilita una mirada sincrónica que facilita la comprensión de la identidad hispanoamericana en su complejidad.

El título mismo, "El espejo enterrado", sugiere una exploración de la identidad colectiva, donde cada lector puede ver reflejado su propio rostro en la amalgama de voces y máscaras que constituyen nuestras historias compartidas. Así, esta obra se convierte en patrimonio cultural, un baluarte para miles de lectores en América Latina y España, quienes encuentran en ella no solo su historia, sino también su esencia.

[Rafaela Kino · Rating 2 out of 5]

a light survey. charmingly hyperbolic. full of intellectual digressions that attempt to map meaning and sense into historical narrative. great starter book, well written.

[Nic Acosta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Carlos Fuentes's historical essay of the Hispanic world (written to occasion the fifth centennial of Columbus's voyage) gave me a strange sense of nostalgia. Like sipping tequila after dinner late into the night with a long-lost uncle who tells family stories I've never heard but piece together an image of who I am and where I came from. The genre of the historical essay--which I'm deciding to define here as a highly interpretive survey with broad brush strokes and no footnotes--is a tricky one, but in the hands of a master it can be breathtaking. Can I say breathtaking? I really mean that. More than once did I pause to stare up at the ceiling, take a breath, and let his words soak in. The combination of his magisterial yet welcoming prose, his humor ("Gibraltar, en la actualized, como tantas cosas británicas, es un anacronismo." "Gibraltar today is, like many things British, an anachronism."), his poignant criticisms of the missteps of his heritage but his abiding love of its promises and its people, make this a remarkable book, the product of a true Renaissance man in the Latin American tradition of Andrés Bello and others. Fuentes excelled at fiction but, like them, sought above all to understand his people in their multifaceted historical expressions, and you can feel in the warmth of his writing his pastoral care and his intention to bless generation with self-understanding. I feel blessed, anyway.

(This is based on the Spanish text, but the English translation is excellent.)

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. If you want to read an amazing account of Spain and Latin America this is your book. Originally written to celebrate Columbus' 500th anniversary, it was made into a television series. I only wish I could have seen the series (Amazon lists only the first show on VHS for a mere $120).

Yes I am a huge Carlos Fuentes fan - I have read about half of his books - so I am biased but the wonderful tone and respect Fuentes has for history makes you realize that this is a huge subject and he takes nothing for granted. From the earliest beginnings on how early Spain dealt with different peoples from the Romans and Arabs, Jews to their later colonization of the Americas and right up to the Central American wars with the Cold War countries - Fuentes covers it all. An added benefit is how he uses art to make his historical points and nicely featured in this book. Fuentes writes fairly and rarely takes side and when he comments, they are poignant. He is a Mexican writer and does have a large input (and often personal) but this does not detract.

My only criticism is now the book is 20 years old and so much has happened that it leaves one needing a follow-up book. He ends with a wonderful message on hope and how Latin America has come to America (and still going on). Such a good read (just before El cinco de mayo!).

[Terence Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carlos Fuentes is an iconic writer for those interested in Central and South American literature/writing. This book is a series of essays that intend to explain how the Spanish conquistadores and the Indian and, later, Black populations of the southern Americas have engaged in a 500 year-long exchange, resulting in a unique, multi-layered, extremely vibrant culture of its own. Fuentes does not short-change the suffering undergone by those who were conquered. Nor does he soft-pedal the extraordinary cruelty and cynicism of the conquerors. But he does a fine job of clearly explaining what has happened in Central and South America in the 500 years since The Conquest. It happens that this book is a "companion volume" to the very fine PBS series of the same name. I would argue that the series is the companion to the book. Very clearly written, with vast scholarship.

For Spanish-language readers, the book is also available with the title El Espejo enterrado.

[Rafael · Rating 5 out of 5]

All right, all right, all right already! I haven’t yet finished this book, it’s too great. As a Latino I feel this is an essential piece of composition for me to read, and perhaps other bookish Latinos. Yes, I read most of it and all I read was in español which makes me very proud. (It’s my contention too much emphasis is put on literature for intermediate readers of Spanish like myself. Literature is damn hard no matter what language you read!) Carlos Fuentes is so very lucid. I love that guy and his entire bushy mustache.

[Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting overview of (mostly) Mexican history since the time of Cortes. The book examines the impact on the indigenous Indian culture of Mexico ways of being and thinking imported from Spain and traces how the modern day country of Mexico precariously balances between those two inheritances.

[December · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un fantástico recorrido sobre la historia de la cultura hispanoamericana y la influencia que España ha tenido sobre ella. Carlos Fuentes demuestra su fuerte como ensayista en esta obra, en la cual ofrece una perspectiva diferente e innovadora de la cultura que vio nacer a tan destacado autor.

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eurocéntrico. Fuentes es demasiado parcial al lado de los conquistadores y imperialismo (mundo moderno). En mi opinión, él no añade nada a la conversación para Hispanoamérica y además olvida la población indígena.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must-read for Spanish students and hispanofiles. I have seen the videos and read the book at varous times during my sudies.

[Kennis Negron · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this for a Spanish class. Probably why I didn't really enjoy it.

[Mariano Fontela · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sus opiniones políticas tienen tanto fundamento y análisis como las de mi tía

[Ricardo Munguia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ensayo histórico que abarca desde la España prerromanica y las culturas americas precolombianas hasta la España y Latinoamérica del siglo XX. El argumento del ensayo es que nuestra cultura, y en parte nuestra sociedad (en particular latinoamericana) es la mezcla de un sinumero de tradiciones que hemos heredado de todas las personas que han habitado nuestro territorio. Desde los conquistadores hispános que traian consigo un bagaje cultural no solo hispáno, si no romano, godo, árabe y judio, los indígenas que habitaban en nuestras tierras, llamense aztecas, mayas, toltecas e incas, hasta aquellos que fueron traidos a la fuerza como las poblaciones africanas, pero que a pesar de este origén múltiple existe una continuidad que ha formado parte de nuestra historia e idiosincrasia que persiste hoy en día , una continuidad triste y violentada per que sin duda es producto de un inteso proceso de mestizaje que nos caracteriza en el que uno de los puntos persistentes es la resistencia y la desigualdad y la lucha por la justicia social.

El libro abarca un periodo histórico bastante amplio de una región enorme del planeta, y sería imposible hablar de todo a detalle sin convertir a este volumen en una enciclopedia completa, sin embargo a modo de resumen creo que aporta bastantes datos interesantes de todos los periodos en los que se habla (en particula la información del periodo colonial y revolucionario me parecieron lo más interesante) pero que hace del libro una lectura densa y dificil por la cantidad de figuras historicas a las que hace referencia, así que es recomendable tener cierto conocimeinto de historia previo a embarcar esta lectura (con que recuerdes tus clases de historia de la escuela, en caso de ser mexicano es suficiente, pues afortunadamente el libro a pesar de su densidad de contenido está escrito de una manera sencilla). Habla del arte y la literatura que han influido en Hispanoamérica y afortunadamenta la edición que leí contaba con las litografias a color que creo que son una gran aportación a la lectura. Cuenta además cin una vasta lista de bibliografia complementaria y un índice analítico por lo que el libro es un excelente punto de partida para aquellos quienes desean profundizar en algún tema (cosa que yo siempre agradezco en libros de este tipo).

La lectura, aunque densa en contenido es fluida, en concuerdo en gran medida con los argumentos expuestos por el autor, en el que somos productos de tradiciones y culturas heredades y que estas se enriquecen cuando se combinan y mueren cuando se aislan, no comparto tanto su optimismo con respecto al progreso en esta constante lucha contra la desigualdad, pues es mi persepción que desde que este libro se escribió (a principios de la década de los ´90) a la actualidad esta ha incrementado, aunque debo de reconocer que en muchos frentes se han ganados batallas significativas (en particular en los derechos de las minorias, que resultan insuficientes y en muchos casos letra muestra). Creo que es un libro fantastico para aquellos quienes tienen interés en temas históricos y no saben por donde empezar, pero si tu interés es más bien literario, creo que este libro lo vas a encontrar muy distante a tus propios intereses. Sin embargo vale la pena echarle un ojo y en caso de que tengas una edición ilutrada, apreciar las fotografias.

[Raul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely an amazing primer to the history of Spain & Hispano-America - I say “amazing” because it is quite a feat to cover 2000 years of history of such a vast territory in a mere 500 pages. Carlos Fuentes does this, of course, by taking a point of view, so this isn’t just a history but a story of how Carlos sees the Hispanic culture develop, capitalizing on some opportunities but failing to seize on others. He is highly critical of the Catholic Kings (Fernando & Isabella) for cleansing the society of Islamic & Jewish elements and weakening urban institutions all in the name of power, unity, and religious purity, thereby eliminating the chance for Spain to build on these institutions and, like the rest of Europe, capitalize on the scientific an economic progress brought about by the Enlightenment. But then he sees Spain falling backwards even more by the stifling centralization of Charles I (Charles v, the Hapsburg Emperor) during whose reign Spanish society could off silver coming from the colonies, which enriched but stifled all initiative of the upper classes and made it that for them “work” was considered shameful, while much of the rest of Spain lived in feudal conditions. Similarly he sees the history of Latin America as a series of incomplete “importations” or impositions of European ( and ultimately US) institutions and ideas by elites without recognizing things these elites or those in power could have learned by being more respectful of indigenous culture and the broader interests of society. Even if, as a reader, you don’t agree with this perspective it gives you considerable insight into the evolution of Spain and Latin America, more so than a mere recital of facts, and it makes this long book much more accessible to any person new to the culture. So if you happen to be a hapless diplomat from the outside world posted to Latin America, this book is, I would say, a MUST read

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carlos Fuentes was one of Mexico's greatest writers, and is primarily known as a novelist. He wrote "El espejo enterrado" (The Buried Mirror) in 1992, to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America. "El espejo enterrado" is a work of non-fiction. I heard it referred to as a "cultural history". It's a broad, sweeping overview of the history of Spain and Latin America, focusing on the major cultural figures of the Spanish-speaking world, and the connection between Spain and Latin America.

As someone who majored in Spanish in college, I loved reading this book. I felt like it summed up everything I learned, and even filled in a few missing spots in my education. This is also the first book I have read in Spanish in many years. But I found Fuentes' Spanish straightforward and easy to understand, and I enjoyed his synthesis and analysis. This is clearly the work of a very knowledgeable and well-read author.

[Holland Griffin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una reflexión maravillosa de las raíces de cultura latinoamericana. Carlos Fuentes afirma que existe una dualidad cultural en América latina que sirve de definir y explicar la manera en que los latinoamericanos se ven a sí mismos y cómo son vistos por el resto del mundo. Tuve que leerlo para una clase de la política, pero quedé impresionada por las interpretaciones culturales presentadas por el autor a través del libro. Since embargo, mi critica principal es que hay un enfoque en España que ignora el impacto profundo dejado por Portugal dentro del contexto del trauma de la colonización.

[Eder Mijangos · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Somos indígenas, negros, europeos, pero sobretodo, mestizos. Somos griegos e íberos, romanos y judíos, árabes, cristianos y gitanos. Es decir: España y el nuevo mundo son centros donde múltiples culturas se encuentran, centros de incorporación y no de exclusión. Cuando excluimos, nos traicionamos y empobrecemos, cuando incluimos, nos enriquecemos y nos encontramos a nosotros mismos."

Este libro me ha enseñado muchísimo sobre cultura e historia. Es muy interesante y completo. Me hizo querer saber un poco más sobre algunos temas. La Malinche y el Quijote, por ejemplo.