Michaela Dean’s Reviews > The Secret History of Costaguana > Status Update

He ends up telling his story to Conrad, who gives a false story, making him the enemy of Jose for the rest of his life

Yet again, Colombia is thrust into a revolution, however this one is centralized in Panama City and Colon. Jose, as an unintentional witness to the Great Events of the revolution plays an integral part in the revolution that splits Panama from Colombia. He eventually leaves his daughter, now 17, and goes to Europe to tell the story of the revolution.

life and births their daughter Eloisa. We also watch as the Canal Company sinks, Miguel loses all credibility, loses his job, and dies. Conrad begins his life as a sailor and then turns into a journalist/novelist. We follow as Charlotte is murdered by a deserter and Jose is thrust into depression.

Next, Jose finds Miguel in Colon and follows his life there. You watch as Miguel's obsession with the Railroad and the Canal grows and Jose discovers Miguel's gift of journalism and event twisting. After this we meet the Madiniers. We follow as their son later Gustave as well as hundreds of other white people die of yellow fever. We await on the edge of our seats as Charlotte attempts suicide and then enters Jose's

The story starts with the events that lead his father, Miguel Altamirano, to Panama. The Chinese cadaver, Father Echavarria's actions, and the revolutions. Then the author describes the events that lead to Antonia de Narvaez and the birth and early life of Jose, the narrator. Then he goes on to describe the first glimpse we see of Conrad and how his actions lead to his meeting with Jose.

Culture: celebrated the canal with an insurgence of patriotism.Characters: José: threw family into isolation for protection, drew into self after charlotte's murder. Éloise: grew wise beyond her years, coped with mother's death by doing things that reminded her of her. Anatolio Calderón: ran from this fate out of cowardice. Conrad: used other people to achieve the success that was needed for his personal well being.

Culture: panama had been the
Caribbean Switzerland, until it
gained independence from
Colombia
Characters:
-widow of the canal: son, grieves and finds refuge in others. Husband, grieves in silence and isolation
-Miguel: refracts the truth to assuage the fears and troubles of others.
-Conrad: has others fix his own problems, tries to commit suicide to avoid his troubles.

The reoccurring theme of the book in this section is that politics are dangerous (and according to my friends in Colombia and Panama) still are. To update the characters: Conrad smuggles ammunition to a revolution in Colombia causing thousands of deaths that he cares nothing about. Santiago Perez Triana finds solace in letters asking when its safe to return home even when he appears content outwardly, just as I do.

Finally the main character, and narrator, José de Narváez. He is the bastard son of Miguel and Antonia. When he finds out that he is a bastard by birth he takes matters into his own hands and goes in search of his father in Panama. It seems that he is always seeking knowledge in any form (like me), and blames himself for things that are out of his control. Overall, I think this book will be a very interesting read.

A lot of minor characters in the book turn to death instead of actually solving their problems, such as the chinaman who committed suicide to escape the hardships of panama, and William Beckman (the husband of Antonia de Naváez) who did so after finding out that her child was not his. Father Echavarría who made Miguel the enemy of the Catholic Church, when faced with a challenge from Miguel, tried to murder him.