In the Time of the Americans

by Oswald Rivera

In the Time of the Americans tells the multigenerational story of two families, the lusty Benitez family and the reserved, methodical Walkers, and how different perceptions and myths will lead to the inescapable repetition of events grounded in the history of both clans. The tale begins with the doomed love affair of Emile Walker and Maria Benítez Izquierdo, and how this episode affects both families’ fortunes and misfortunes with the rise of the American century in the Caribbean. It is a unique family saga rooted in the present, but anchored to the past. Important actions and historical events chronicle the changes of an from outhouses to cinemas, from horse carriages to the automobile, from apparitions floating on cobblestone streets to urban conflicts, each supplanted in turn by new dreams and illusions. The story captures unusual characters and extraordinary events that involve generations of men and women who are unable or unwilling to escape their shared destinies. It is a narrative replete with an American invasion, ghosts of the past and the present, ideological illusions, cyclical upheavals, the arrival of new technologies with the American presence, glories and disasters, and, ultimately, redemption. 

405 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 29, 2021

Reviews

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A multi-generational historical novel set in 20th century Puerto Rico, from the American invasion of 1898 to the late 60s, chronicling the changes primarily through the Benitez family, whose head is Antonio, a canny and successful businessman and entrepreneur. Antonio is not a native of the island, and thus can stand outside the political tensions, and is happy to accept American domination as he feels financial prosperity depends on it. His friend Octavio, however, wants to see Puerto Rico independent, and we see the rise of nationalism through him. As a chronicle of Puerto Rican history, the book has a lot going for it. It’s historically accurate, and brought to my attention the conflicts and challenges that still afflict the place today. The American presence on the island has its supporters and detractors, and these are exemplified by the characters we meet. The first part of the book which focusses primarily on Antonio is more successful than the second part in which we read of the stories of the younger generation and I found this less gripping as there isn’t time to really get inside their heads and they feel less developed. On the whole though the characterisation throughout is good, although the dialogue often felt stilted and unnatural. Overall I found the book a good read, if not a particularly literary one, and I very much enjoyed learning about life and culture in Puerto Rico.