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Morir en el Golfo
This novel marks the long-awaited arrival—in English—of a masterful voice in Mexican and noir fiction
Death in Veracruz is a gritty and atmospheric noir centered on the so-called oil wars of the late 1970s, which pitted the extremely powerful and corrupt government-owned oil cartel PEMEX against the agrarian landowners in the coastal regions of Southern Mexico. This novel, translated for the first time in English since its publication 30 years ago, concerns a journalist who investigates the death of a colleague and friend Rojano in a bizarre shooting incident that takes place in a small rural village, and who finds himself up against crooked police and a charismatic and ruthless union boss . But, as he gets deeper into this Mexican Heart of Darkness, he finds Rojano was not all he seemed, and neither was his widow with whom he falls into a doomed affair.
Death in Veracruz is a gritty and atmospheric noir centered on the so-called oil wars of the late 1970s, which pitted the extremely powerful and corrupt government-owned oil cartel PEMEX against the agrarian landowners in the coastal regions of Southern Mexico. This novel, translated for the first time in English since its publication 30 years ago, concerns a journalist who investigates the death of a colleague and friend Rojano in a bizarre shooting incident that takes place in a small rural village, and who finds himself up against crooked police and a charismatic and ruthless union boss . But, as he gets deeper into this Mexican Heart of Darkness, he finds Rojano was not all he seemed, and neither was his widow with whom he falls into a doomed affair.
316 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
10 people are currently reading
708 people want to read
About the author
Héctor Aguilar Camín
71 books63 followersPeriodista, novelista e historiador mexicano.
Ha destacado en sus tres vertientes de periodista, escritor e historiador. En la primera, recibió el Premio Nacional de Periodismo Cultural; ha sido colaborador de diversos medios, como La Jornada (diario del que fue subdirector), Milenio, Unomasuno, La Cultura en México. Fue director de la revista Nexos entre 1983 y 1995, cargo que retomó a fines de 2008. Condujo el programa televisivo Zona Abierta y participa en Tercer Grado, ambos transmitidos por Televisa. Es fundador de Ediciones Cal y Arena (1988), la cual dirigió.
Aguilar Camín publicó su primer libro de ficción en 1983: la recopilación de cuentos La decadencia del dragón y dos años después, después de mantener en secreto otros borradores, sale su primera novela: Morir en el golfo, que sería llevada al cine con el mismo nombre en 1990 por Alejandro Pelayo.
Ha destacado en sus tres vertientes de periodista, escritor e historiador. En la primera, recibió el Premio Nacional de Periodismo Cultural; ha sido colaborador de diversos medios, como La Jornada (diario del que fue subdirector), Milenio, Unomasuno, La Cultura en México. Fue director de la revista Nexos entre 1983 y 1995, cargo que retomó a fines de 2008. Condujo el programa televisivo Zona Abierta y participa en Tercer Grado, ambos transmitidos por Televisa. Es fundador de Ediciones Cal y Arena (1988), la cual dirigió.
Aguilar Camín publicó su primer libro de ficción en 1983: la recopilación de cuentos La decadencia del dragón y dos años después, después de mantener en secreto otros borradores, sale su primera novela: Morir en el golfo, que sería llevada al cine con el mismo nombre en 1990 por Alejandro Pelayo.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
March 8, 2016
Mexican noir!!
Written thirty years ago by writer and journalist Héctor Aguilar Camín, this novel has finally been translated and published in English.
Death in Veracruz deals with the hunger for power and money, the corruption within the government, the unions and government-owned oil cartel PEMEX (Petróleos Mexicanos), the war against landowners in buying up all their acreage, all in the rush for black gold in the 1970s.
Politically ambitious Rojano has big dreams, to get as rich and powerful as he can. Feeding his journalist friend El Negro information about several politically motivated murders, seemingly all planned by one of Rojano's opponents, Rojano eventually gets murdered too.
El Negro, Rojano's friend and journalist, starts poking around in certain political corners to find answers regarding the murders. Not everybody likes it, thus El Negro finds himself in perilous situations often enough.
Anabela, Rojano's widow and mistress of El Negro, is grieving the loss of her husband and wants retribution for whoever did it, sparing no one on her warpath.
The characters and incidents are entirely fictional, yet (large) bits of reality weave in and out of the story. Aguilar Camín knows how to describe the México of that era. It takes a bit of digging in, especially without any knowledge beforehand and some research into key players might be helpful.
PEMEX
Jorge Diaz Serrano
example corruption
Death in Veracruz is a literary salsa with love, friendship, betrayal, murder, greed, corruption, desire, all mixed together.
Review copy supplied by publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a rating and/or review.
January 4, 2016
Thanks to NetGalley.com and Schaffnerpress for sending me this book in return for an honest review. The publisher went the extra mile on this book. It did not have a send to kindle icon. The publisher told me to click on the epub icon and that would send it to my kindle. It only sent it to my desktop. Timothy Schaffner then sent me a print copy. Kudos to Timothy!!
I enjoyed reading it and found it reminiscent of Raymond Chandler noir style. The narrator is a journalist who is contacted by a boyhood friend who wants him to investigate a conspiracy to murder people who won't sell their land to a powerful union boss. The journalist is still in love with the wife of this friend. She reconnects with him and seduces him.
He starts investigating, but all is not black and white. Even at the end I was not sure what actually happened. This book is full of corrupt oil/government politics in 1970s Mexico. The writing is very descriptive. "But everything else vanished in a stew of self serving fabrications, lies, false conclusions, spectacular coincidences, and the general messiness of life." I am surprised that the journalist never died of alcohol poisoning, since he drank so much. I give it four stars out of five.
I thought that the translation was excellent.
I enjoyed reading it and found it reminiscent of Raymond Chandler noir style. The narrator is a journalist who is contacted by a boyhood friend who wants him to investigate a conspiracy to murder people who won't sell their land to a powerful union boss. The journalist is still in love with the wife of this friend. She reconnects with him and seduces him.
He starts investigating, but all is not black and white. Even at the end I was not sure what actually happened. This book is full of corrupt oil/government politics in 1970s Mexico. The writing is very descriptive. "But everything else vanished in a stew of self serving fabrications, lies, false conclusions, spectacular coincidences, and the general messiness of life." I am surprised that the journalist never died of alcohol poisoning, since he drank so much. I give it four stars out of five.
I thought that the translation was excellent.
June 1, 2012
He visto que los escritores usan cualquier cosa como personaje principal, ya sean personas, ciudades, eventos pero, ¡el sindicato de Pemex! Me sorprendió y, además, para mí ésta es la mejor novela de Aguilar Camín. Me encanta la forma en la que usa las metáforas en ciertos puntos claves. Es un gran narrador.
December 17, 2022
The plot is a bit haphazard but I happened to live in the state of Veracruz during the year this story took place and I have to say that Camín absolutely nailed the atmosphere of all that was happening at the time. The uncertainty, the rumors, the distrust of whoever was in authority was almost palpable.
April 30, 2015
Una tremenda novela situada en lo profundo del golfo Mexicano, entre la selva, el petroleo salvador o destructor, y la ambicion y violencia que ese escenario desata. Hay mucho que admirar, los personajes tienen tantas capas y una densidad viva: el desenfreno descontrolado y alegre de Rojano, la convivencia diaria y peligrosa del "amigo periodista" con su propio abismo y su caos, la vitalidad primigenia y poderosa de Pizarro, los amores locos e innegables de Anabela, los pueblos mismos de Veracruz. Ficcion que nos presenta un Mexico que fue tan real, violento y con sus propias reglas internas, un Mexico peligroso y bello, salvaje, que quizas no se ha ido del todo, para bien o para mal (mas para mal). Que poderosa novela, vivir y morir en el golfo, apostarlo todo a la vida o la muerte, a la venganza o al amor, eso tambien está en mi pais, en mi herencia. Que horror tan hermoso.
July 8, 2014
Morir en el Golfo es una excelente novela de Héctor Aguilar Camín. Su narrativa y descripción de espacios, lugares y personajes es muy buena y logra que le pongas rostros a estos últimos. Por su parte, narra de manera fotográfica los vicios del sindicalismo mexicano y sus prácticas clientelares. Además, de describir cómo es que el gobierno mexicano influye para la decisión de lo que es verdad o mentira en la vida pública.
June 29, 2024
4.5 ⭐️ “Bajo el mando de Pizarro, la sección 35 aumentó 100 veces su presupuesto, construyó 2 unidades habitacionales, 35 tiendas sindicales con precios 40% inferiores al mercado, siete cines, 17 escuelas, ocho empacadoras y dos complejos agropecuarios. Se le imputaron las muertes de cuatro rivales políticos, las cuatro situaciones difíciles de aclarar.”
Joyita que retrata la política mexicana de los 70’s.
Joyita que retrata la política mexicana de los 70’s.
January 17, 2016
Noir masterpiece about the dark face of Mexico in the 70s. Not for the faint of heart - and a must for all the words lover.
This novel is both national and personal history, described in emotionless and honest journalistic tone. Author Hector Aguilar Camin is one of the leading journalists and authors of his country and it truly shows - he is working with the words like a seasoned chef with his ingredients, any of his sentences has the flavour to react with you, sometimes in a very unexpected way, but you react always (included the reaction of embarrasssment, shock or disgust). The novel is not a sugar-coated story. It is a very honest description of dishonest people and corrupt times and leaves you enough space to create your own opinion till the end and beyond.
Our narrator known to us readers just under his childhood nickname Negro is a political journalist, who is covering the most burning affairs of Mexico in the 70s - and the country was one melting pot of corrupt affairs at the time (but not just then). Through his words you see the dark face of the passionate and beautiful country what Mexico has been then (and still is). Negro is like a bird of prey, always hunting for a good story. He is not what you call your nice guy - he drinks like a private investigator character from a bad novel, and is a womanizer in that very style. But he is a good journalist and is opinion is well sought. His only weakness is his love/obsession with stunning Anabela, a wife of his childhood friend Rojano, aspiring politician with high ambitions. And his relationship with Anabela as well as his opinion-making powers get him into conflict between Rojano and union workers leader Lacho Pizarro - for a land and for the lives. Negro enters the fight from the old friendship - but soon realizes nothing is like it seems and all of the involved has their own reasons and motivations. The tragical outburst of violence in the small city of Chicontepec is a catalyst for the "eye for eye, tooth for tooth" fight. And the weapons in fights are not the clean ones and manipulation is one of them.
As a word lover, I enjoyed every sentence. As a Mexico lover, I read with bated breath and gained a more in-depth knowledge of its history. As a person interested in politics, detto. As a quite sensitive female reader - well, a tough reading. I was quite fascinated by the characters, but I liked very few of them. Every character is very rich and quite complex, but not every character is a person I would like to meet, if you get my point. The most fascinating of them for me is Lacho Pizarro - the cold power building and destroying as he deems necessary, but not cruel. At least he built something for his people, which can´t be said about every character. Also I like the internal affairs contact, because he seems being a good professional and a quite decent man - in the mantinels of his job.
The book also contains one of the best descriptions of how poverty and alcohol corrupts the very soul of a person (and I am not meaning the rich person´s drinking habits - but the destruction of the poor and forgotten in the interests of powerful ruling groups).
This is definitely not a clean read. And this is not a passionate book about a love affair either. It is hot and cold and neither of both of them at the same time, a passionate affair with a troubled country and obsessive hunt for what one couldn´t obtain. Maybe for the best, but where would the good literature be without the stories like this?
This novel is both national and personal history, described in emotionless and honest journalistic tone. Author Hector Aguilar Camin is one of the leading journalists and authors of his country and it truly shows - he is working with the words like a seasoned chef with his ingredients, any of his sentences has the flavour to react with you, sometimes in a very unexpected way, but you react always (included the reaction of embarrasssment, shock or disgust). The novel is not a sugar-coated story. It is a very honest description of dishonest people and corrupt times and leaves you enough space to create your own opinion till the end and beyond.
Our narrator known to us readers just under his childhood nickname Negro is a political journalist, who is covering the most burning affairs of Mexico in the 70s - and the country was one melting pot of corrupt affairs at the time (but not just then). Through his words you see the dark face of the passionate and beautiful country what Mexico has been then (and still is). Negro is like a bird of prey, always hunting for a good story. He is not what you call your nice guy - he drinks like a private investigator character from a bad novel, and is a womanizer in that very style. But he is a good journalist and is opinion is well sought. His only weakness is his love/obsession with stunning Anabela, a wife of his childhood friend Rojano, aspiring politician with high ambitions. And his relationship with Anabela as well as his opinion-making powers get him into conflict between Rojano and union workers leader Lacho Pizarro - for a land and for the lives. Negro enters the fight from the old friendship - but soon realizes nothing is like it seems and all of the involved has their own reasons and motivations. The tragical outburst of violence in the small city of Chicontepec is a catalyst for the "eye for eye, tooth for tooth" fight. And the weapons in fights are not the clean ones and manipulation is one of them.
As a word lover, I enjoyed every sentence. As a Mexico lover, I read with bated breath and gained a more in-depth knowledge of its history. As a person interested in politics, detto. As a quite sensitive female reader - well, a tough reading. I was quite fascinated by the characters, but I liked very few of them. Every character is very rich and quite complex, but not every character is a person I would like to meet, if you get my point. The most fascinating of them for me is Lacho Pizarro - the cold power building and destroying as he deems necessary, but not cruel. At least he built something for his people, which can´t be said about every character. Also I like the internal affairs contact, because he seems being a good professional and a quite decent man - in the mantinels of his job.
The book also contains one of the best descriptions of how poverty and alcohol corrupts the very soul of a person (and I am not meaning the rich person´s drinking habits - but the destruction of the poor and forgotten in the interests of powerful ruling groups).
This is definitely not a clean read. And this is not a passionate book about a love affair either. It is hot and cold and neither of both of them at the same time, a passionate affair with a troubled country and obsessive hunt for what one couldn´t obtain. Maybe for the best, but where would the good literature be without the stories like this?
December 23, 2015
As part of my continuing test of Scribd’s subscription ebooks service, I stumbled on Héctor Aguilar Camín’s Death in Veracruz. Set in the ‘60s and ‘70s during the ascent of Mexico’s oil industry, A Death in Veracruz is a classic of Latin literature, only recently translated ably into English by Chandler Thompson.
Death in Veracruz
Amongst the conflict, graft, corruption and collusion between PEMEX (Mexico’s corrupt government-owned oil company) and the powerful Oil Workers labor union, our narrator (simply called by his nickname, Negro) is an investigative journalist specializing in sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong. His lifelong friend Rojano is an aspiring politician and landowner, married to the stunning and willful Anabela. Negro has been in love with Anabela since his youth, but lost out to Rojano. But he remains in their orbit, as Rojano and Anabel slowly draw him into their schemes to rise in power.
Rojano’s enemy (and simultaneous political sponsor and mentor) is Lazaro Pizarro, a charismatic and ruthless leader in the Oil Worker’s union. Pizarro is rendered by turns philosophical, ruthless, cruel and yet clinically unemotional when ordering deaths. Each of the main characters is wholly believable and mesmerizing, but Pizarro stands center to me. As the leader of the oil workers union, he is trying to build the worker’s paradise in Mexico and will let nothing stand in his way. At the prompting of Rojano, Negro interviews Pizarro, and more or less accuses him of murdering people to advance his cause. Pizzaro’s response:
Death in Veracruz is a dark, classic noir, where nobody is who they seem, double crosses are common, and nobody can be entirely trusted. It’s also a love story, an exploration of Mexico’s culture in the ‘60s and ‘70s, and a hell of wild ride. You’re never sure whether you are being told the truth by the author or the characters, or precisely sure what’s actually happened, kind of a Mexican True Detective.
It’s an entirely atmospheric novel; since books and music often go together well, I made a music playlist for you as you read:
https://open.spotify.com/user/viking2...
Death in Veracruz
Amongst the conflict, graft, corruption and collusion between PEMEX (Mexico’s corrupt government-owned oil company) and the powerful Oil Workers labor union, our narrator (simply called by his nickname, Negro) is an investigative journalist specializing in sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong. His lifelong friend Rojano is an aspiring politician and landowner, married to the stunning and willful Anabela. Negro has been in love with Anabela since his youth, but lost out to Rojano. But he remains in their orbit, as Rojano and Anabel slowly draw him into their schemes to rise in power.
Rojano’s enemy (and simultaneous political sponsor and mentor) is Lazaro Pizarro, a charismatic and ruthless leader in the Oil Worker’s union. Pizarro is rendered by turns philosophical, ruthless, cruel and yet clinically unemotional when ordering deaths. Each of the main characters is wholly believable and mesmerizing, but Pizarro stands center to me. As the leader of the oil workers union, he is trying to build the worker’s paradise in Mexico and will let nothing stand in his way. At the prompting of Rojano, Negro interviews Pizarro, and more or less accuses him of murdering people to advance his cause. Pizzaro’s response:
“Try to understand,” he said in a voice that was barely audible. “Listen to what I’m telling you. People there are dying at the rate of two a day just from drinking mezcal. Have you ever been in one of those jails? I was in the one in Chicontepec last week. One of the inmates had killed his mother. Another a friend he was out drinking with. Another raped his daughter and almost beat her to death. None of them remembered what they’d done. All that death and suffering was pointless. It bore no fruit. Nothing blossomed or contributed to the wellbeing of others. These are the deaths that must be stopped, the barren ones driven by mezcal and ignorance. There are always going to be violent deaths, that’s the law of history. It’s up to us to make sure they’re fertile and creative, that’s all.”
Death in Veracruz is a dark, classic noir, where nobody is who they seem, double crosses are common, and nobody can be entirely trusted. It’s also a love story, an exploration of Mexico’s culture in the ‘60s and ‘70s, and a hell of wild ride. You’re never sure whether you are being told the truth by the author or the characters, or precisely sure what’s actually happened, kind of a Mexican True Detective.
It’s an entirely atmospheric novel; since books and music often go together well, I made a music playlist for you as you read:
https://open.spotify.com/user/viking2...
January 11, 2018
This was pretty good. I learned a lot about the political climate and culture of Mexico during the 1970s. It tells the story of a group of friends. One is a reporter. One is a politician. And one is a wife. It's about how their lives are intertwined and how one thing that happens to one of them affects the others. Sort of. I may not be doing this much justice. It's interesting. Especially not knowing anything about Mexico in the 1970s.
October 17, 2023
Increíble desarrollo de personajes. Ahora, cada que alguien quiera conocer sobre cómo se manejaban los dirigentes sindicales durante la época del PRI como partido único, recomendaré este libro. Fenomenal Pizarro, la explicación de la creación del río y cómo ciertos aficionados se sienten dueños de este me pareció genial. Varias lecciones políticas pueden sacarse de este gran texto.
September 14, 2015
If Roberto Bolano had been asked to mash up CHINATOWN with ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN, it might have turned out something like this. Fantastically entertaining, with prose that rivals Raymond Chandler's crispness thanks to an excellent translation.
October 10, 2022
Excelente novela que contextualiza la historia sindical y petrolera del Mexico de los 70s. Los personajes, lugares y el propio lenguaje ubican al lector en esa época y reflejan una realidad, no tan diferente a la actual, del sistema político mexicano de la época.
January 18, 2023
Se me hizo bien mamón. Los personajes insoportables e inconsistentes (a algunos no los termina de describir hasta las últimas páginas), sus diálogos peores. Se me hizo muy chistoso que el protagonista fuera Aguilar Camín y Manuel Buendía a la vez. El conflicto es mucho más interesante en la primera mitad. La prosa es generalmente limpia, pero a veces saltándose hacia lo inútil. La portada y el título en inglés remiten a La muerte en Venecia, pero no entiendo por qué, creo que sólo es cosa de verse mamón.
July 1, 2024
Pizarro le da un símil al Padrino increíble, sobre todo en la entrevista que se da en Poza Rica, todo mundo yendo a pedirle favores como si lo pudiera todo. La historia de amor/pasión que se da en toda la novela es increíble. Muy entretenida, la verdad. Vale la pena igual todo el contexto que te puede dar en materia de los sindicatos petroleros y su influencia política en el siglo pasado.
June 16, 2025
"No nos juzgue sin conocernos. Y no nos conozca provocándonos."
Morir en el Golfo es un intrigante Mex-noir que me recuerda al estilo de Dos crímenes de Ibargüengoitia.
El reportero es un muy agradable protagonista-narrador y Anabela es un personajazo. Algunas fallas y otras cosas que no envejecieron bien por aquí y por allá, pero en general muy agradable sorpresa.
Morir en el Golfo es un intrigante Mex-noir que me recuerda al estilo de Dos crímenes de Ibargüengoitia.
El reportero es un muy agradable protagonista-narrador y Anabela es un personajazo. Algunas fallas y otras cosas que no envejecieron bien por aquí y por allá, pero en general muy agradable sorpresa.
May 7, 2019
Una crónica contada desde tres niveles narrativos (político, periodístico y literario) que refleja el carácter histórico del México autoritario y corrupto. Es posible establecer paralelismos entre los personajes de la ficción y la realidad imperante del México actual, solo que con otros nombres.
October 24, 2023
¿A cuántos Pizarros habremos de chingarnos para llegar al socialismo en México?
¿A cuántas Anabelas hemos de evitar para no perder el camino?
¿Cuántos Rojanos no han cruzado nuestro camino chingándonos de paso?
¿Cuántos no somos como el Negro, indiferentes, a veces en esta vida?
¿A cuántas Anabelas hemos de evitar para no perder el camino?
¿Cuántos Rojanos no han cruzado nuestro camino chingándonos de paso?
¿Cuántos no somos como el Negro, indiferentes, a veces en esta vida?
September 21, 2018
I guess noir really isn't my thing.
July 19, 2024
siento que no lo disfrute , buena novela pero me quedé estancado en varios pasajes
January 9, 2025
Me encantó, me tarde un poco en leerlo por actividades personales, pero me atrapó sin duda alguna. La historia entre Ana y Rojano y la resignación del Negro ante esto.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2025
Los rumores son ciertos: Héctor Aguilar Camín es un gran novelista.
January 7, 2025
Siendo honesta Héctor Aguilar Camín es de esos autores que me reusé a leer por años, por ser un señor y querer darle la oportunidad primero a autorAs. Fue hasta hace poco que me acepte a mí misma que si quería leerlo.
Ahora habiéndolo leído debo aceptar que hay aspectos que si me esperaba de este señoro. Como sus personajes femeninos, de los cuales importantes, solo se rescatan dos. Por una parte, esta su criada cuya principal función es proveerle servicios de cuidados al Negro. Por la otra esta Anabela, el eterno interés amoroso del prota.
Ana está escrita como la femme fatal por excelencia. Es hermosa, inteligente, rica, pero su gran defecto es que no se enamoró del Negro sino de Rojano su mejor amigo de la universidad, con el cuál se casó, tuvo 2 hijxs y se fue a vivir a Chicontepec, cuando Rojano ganó la presidencia municipal de ese pueblo al norte de Veracruz. Pero cuando Rojano necesita al Negro para avanzar en su carrera política ahí va Anabela a buscarlo a la CDMX, para tener una vida de pareja que incluye bailar, comer, tomar juntos y hasta acostarse con él. Ella tiene una especie de amorío con el Negro, pero siempre en función de Rojano.
SPOILERS
Por ejemplo, cuando matan a Rojano, Ana y sus hijos se van a vivir con el Negro. Empiezan a llevar una vida de familia al punto de que Ana y el Negro ya duermen en la misma cama
El resto de las personajas, solo son satélites que orbitan alrededor de las necesidades del prota. Se trata de mujeres con las que se acuesta o la periodista gringa a la que necesita para tener información de Lacho Pizarro.
Dejando de lado este gran punto negativo. Hubo otros aspectos de la novela que sí me gustaron y mucho. Considero que su gran acierto es su trama política.
El contexto político es el sexenio de López Portillo 1976-1982, es decir estamos en pleno régimen de Partido Hegemónico con el PRI como eje central del sistema político mexicano.
Se habla del México petrolero, de PEMEX; la gallina de los huevos de oro para el gobierno mexicano a cambio de una opacidad total y un control total de esta paraestatal a través de su sindicato.
No se puede quedar atrás el tema del sindicalismo charro. Con el ejemplo de Lacho Pizarro, se ve el arquetipo de líder sindical mexicano durante el S. XX adscrito por su puesto a cualquiera de los tres pilares de clientelismo electoral del PRI: la CNOP, CTM o la CROC. Me encantó, la escena de Lacho Pizarro junto con Roibal, su mano derecha, despachando todo tipo de asuntos en la oficia de su Quinta a primera hora de la mañana hasta que ya no se soporta el calor veracruzano. Tiene una fila interminable de personas que como a cualquier líder mesíanico le van a pedir de todo, porque saben que ahí hay dinero y poder. Desde una viuda de quien en vida fuera un petrolero a la que no le dan la pensión de PEMEX, pasando por un adolescente que quiere entrar a trabajar a PEMEX pues ya se quiere casar, hasta un sin fin de escritos, oficios y memos.
Una forma que me encantó (desde mi venia politológica) que uso el autor para describir el autoritarismo mexicano de la segunda mitad del siglo pasado, fue cuando el contacto de Gobernación le lleva al Negro unas fotos truqueadas de su propio cadáver. Este hecho dice dos cosas, la más importante a mi parecer es:
1 Así puedes terminar si sigues con tus columnas sobre la corrupción de los líderes sindicales de PEMEX y
2 Ves como las fotos de los supuestos cadáveres que dice Rojano pueden ser falsas
Creo que este recurso de usar el miedo a través de una amenaza de muerte es un ejemplo perfecto del funcionamiento de cualquier régimen autoritario.
Creo que, si volvería a leer al autor, con la nota mental de que su obra seguramente no tendrá perspectiva de género. Me interesa particularmente La Guerra del Galio.
Ahora habiéndolo leído debo aceptar que hay aspectos que si me esperaba de este señoro. Como sus personajes femeninos, de los cuales importantes, solo se rescatan dos. Por una parte, esta su criada cuya principal función es proveerle servicios de cuidados al Negro. Por la otra esta Anabela, el eterno interés amoroso del prota.
Ana está escrita como la femme fatal por excelencia. Es hermosa, inteligente, rica, pero su gran defecto es que no se enamoró del Negro sino de Rojano su mejor amigo de la universidad, con el cuál se casó, tuvo 2 hijxs y se fue a vivir a Chicontepec, cuando Rojano ganó la presidencia municipal de ese pueblo al norte de Veracruz. Pero cuando Rojano necesita al Negro para avanzar en su carrera política ahí va Anabela a buscarlo a la CDMX, para tener una vida de pareja que incluye bailar, comer, tomar juntos y hasta acostarse con él. Ella tiene una especie de amorío con el Negro, pero siempre en función de Rojano.
SPOILERS
Por ejemplo, cuando matan a Rojano, Ana y sus hijos se van a vivir con el Negro. Empiezan a llevar una vida de familia al punto de que Ana y el Negro ya duermen en la misma cama
El resto de las personajas, solo son satélites que orbitan alrededor de las necesidades del prota. Se trata de mujeres con las que se acuesta o la periodista gringa a la que necesita para tener información de Lacho Pizarro.
Dejando de lado este gran punto negativo. Hubo otros aspectos de la novela que sí me gustaron y mucho. Considero que su gran acierto es su trama política.
El contexto político es el sexenio de López Portillo 1976-1982, es decir estamos en pleno régimen de Partido Hegemónico con el PRI como eje central del sistema político mexicano.
Se habla del México petrolero, de PEMEX; la gallina de los huevos de oro para el gobierno mexicano a cambio de una opacidad total y un control total de esta paraestatal a través de su sindicato.
No se puede quedar atrás el tema del sindicalismo charro. Con el ejemplo de Lacho Pizarro, se ve el arquetipo de líder sindical mexicano durante el S. XX adscrito por su puesto a cualquiera de los tres pilares de clientelismo electoral del PRI: la CNOP, CTM o la CROC. Me encantó, la escena de Lacho Pizarro junto con Roibal, su mano derecha, despachando todo tipo de asuntos en la oficia de su Quinta a primera hora de la mañana hasta que ya no se soporta el calor veracruzano. Tiene una fila interminable de personas que como a cualquier líder mesíanico le van a pedir de todo, porque saben que ahí hay dinero y poder. Desde una viuda de quien en vida fuera un petrolero a la que no le dan la pensión de PEMEX, pasando por un adolescente que quiere entrar a trabajar a PEMEX pues ya se quiere casar, hasta un sin fin de escritos, oficios y memos.
Una forma que me encantó (desde mi venia politológica) que uso el autor para describir el autoritarismo mexicano de la segunda mitad del siglo pasado, fue cuando el contacto de Gobernación le lleva al Negro unas fotos truqueadas de su propio cadáver. Este hecho dice dos cosas, la más importante a mi parecer es:
1 Así puedes terminar si sigues con tus columnas sobre la corrupción de los líderes sindicales de PEMEX y
2 Ves como las fotos de los supuestos cadáveres que dice Rojano pueden ser falsas
Creo que este recurso de usar el miedo a través de una amenaza de muerte es un ejemplo perfecto del funcionamiento de cualquier régimen autoritario.
Creo que, si volvería a leer al autor, con la nota mental de que su obra seguramente no tendrá perspectiva de género. Me interesa particularmente La Guerra del Galio.
February 13, 2017
I found this book on my shelf, so I read it. It's an English translation from the original Spanish version. This book is a novel from the 1970s, but its background is the oil industry and union workers in Mexico (of which i have very little knowledge). I liked a lot of the characters, but not the main one (a journalist). It was hard for me to believe that he would make the choices he made. As I was reading, I got confused about the characters' motivations. It may have been better in Spanish.
November 16, 2015
1970’s. PEMEX is a government-owned oil cartel. The agrarian landowners must abide by the corrupt governments wishes.
Lacho Pizarro (union boss) is looking into to the murder of his BMF Francisco Rojano Gutierrez Sr. (CNOP leader, University of Veracruz, attorney, Mayor, Chicontepec).
Lacho soon was fallen in love with Rojano’s widow Annabela Guillaumin.
Francisco & Mercedes are there 2 children.
Where will Lacho’s investigation take him?
What will he uncover?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great movie, PP presentation or mini TV series (A & E, History channel, Masterpiece; PBS). There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Scott Manning & Associates; Schaffner Press; UCP; paperback book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Lacho Pizarro (union boss) is looking into to the murder of his BMF Francisco Rojano Gutierrez Sr. (CNOP leader, University of Veracruz, attorney, Mayor, Chicontepec).
Lacho soon was fallen in love with Rojano’s widow Annabela Guillaumin.
Francisco & Mercedes are there 2 children.
Where will Lacho’s investigation take him?
What will he uncover?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great movie, PP presentation or mini TV series (A & E, History channel, Masterpiece; PBS). There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Scott Manning & Associates; Schaffner Press; UCP; paperback book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
January 9, 2022
Uff! Me cuesta hacer un comentario respecto a este libro pues me siento muy ligado a México (no soy mexicano) por lo que lo que cuenta me llega de cerca y, lo que es peor, lo creo plenamente posible. Se habla de una "novela negra" y probablemente lo sea si hay que calificarla en algún género, pero creo que es un poco como el realismo mágico de García Márquez, sólo realismo tratándose de la América Latina profunda. En este caso podría ser casi una novela histórica tratándose de México.
Dicho eso y remitiéndome sólo a la novela, me parece bien escrita y captura intensamente la atención; por momentos igual siento que exagera (me parece poco creíble que alguien pueda beber tanto y seguir conciente) y pienso que le sobran varias páginas de hechos que aportan poco a la historia. Por eso no puedo darle mejor calificación, no me parece una Gran obra literaria
Dicho eso y remitiéndome sólo a la novela, me parece bien escrita y captura intensamente la atención; por momentos igual siento que exagera (me parece poco creíble que alguien pueda beber tanto y seguir conciente) y pienso que le sobran varias páginas de hechos que aportan poco a la historia. Por eso no puedo darle mejor calificación, no me parece una Gran obra literaria
December 17, 2015
An overly verbose and complicated book. Even though there are some interesting parts to the story the book fails to simplify Mexican politics during the discovery of oil in the Chicotepec basin region of Mexico. The author, in my opinion, intended the narrative for the native population which was familiar with the ins and outs of Mexican politics. The translation does not make it easy for the regular English speaking public to comprehend the intricacies of the Mexican political system. There are a couple of interesting chapters and of special note is the one dealing with the interview of the union leader: Pizarro.
April 6, 2014
Una guerra all'ultimo sangue per la terra e per il potere, intessuta di trame politiche (fino al livello Presidenziale), servizi segreti, informazione e disinformazione, passione e sentimenti. Personaggi indimenticabili ci aiutano a scoprire uno spaccato della storia del Messico e del suo sfruttamento nel settore territoriale, petrolifero e sindacale, nell'evolversi della propria classe politica e giornalistica. Tutto il gioco narrativo e' condotto con un ritmo da thriller ed una tensione che non cede mai ad una pausa. Fino alla resa dei conti finale.
October 5, 2015
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The monopoly and power of the Mexican government-owned oil giant PEMEX against farmers in southern Mexico is portrayed insightfully in this well-written book. A journalist investigating the murder of a colleague and friend finds that all is not as it seems, and the dark underbelly of the struggle for power brings him into contact with corrupt police and treacherous double-dealings.
The monopoly and power of the Mexican government-owned oil giant PEMEX against farmers in southern Mexico is portrayed insightfully in this well-written book. A journalist investigating the murder of a colleague and friend finds that all is not as it seems, and the dark underbelly of the struggle for power brings him into contact with corrupt police and treacherous double-dealings.
October 18, 2015
I really tried to get into this book. I love to discover the literature of other countries and was looking forward to reading a Mexican writer, one who, I believe, is well thought of in Mexico. But I had to give up. I found the background and politics confusing and couldn’t relate to any of the characters. It’s an exposé of corruption and underhand dealings, but it’s set in a world difficult for an outsider to penetrate. Very much a noir thriller, gritty and atmospheric, but not one for me.
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