The Underdogs: A Novel Of The Mexican Revolution (Penguin Classics) Download Free (EPUB, PDF)
The greatest novel of the Mexican Revolution, in a brilliant new translation by an award-winning translatorThe Underdogs is the first great novel about the first great revolution of the twentieth century. Demetrio Macias, a poor, illiterate Indian, must join the rebels to save his family. Courageous and charismatic, he earns a generalship in Pancho Villa?s army, only to become discouraged with the cause after it becomes hopelessly factionalized. At once a spare, moving depiction of the limits of political idealism, an authentic representation of Mexico?s peasant life, and a timeless portrait of revolution, The Underdogs is an iconic novel of the Latin American experience and a powerful novel about the disillusionment of war.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
Series: Penguin Classics
Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Penguin Classics; New edition (July 29, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0143105272
ISBN-13: 978-0143105275
Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.5 x 7.7 inches
Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #111,100 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #361 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Specific Groups > Crime & Criminals #589 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Political #715 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Historical > Military
A vibrant period in Mexican history, but the translation's grammer era was off kilter. It was like "valley girl" idioms coming out of the mouths of characters from the late 1800s and early 1900s, it just did not hit the mark. I guess I will go back to the spanish text and just struggle through it for a more realistic framework.
The Underdogs (translated by Waisman) is a neat snapshot of the Mexican Revolution from 1913 to 1915. Azuela does a fine job - and Waisman by extension - of capturing several different characters and their motivations over these two years. In the beginning, their intentions pure, a small band of revolutionaries fights against their oppressors - Huerta and his supporters. The revolutionaries are welcomed across small towns, rancheros, and haciendas as saviors against the Federales. The small band fights, grows larger, is favorably recognized, and battles some more. But as time changes, so do intentions. It is precisely these human intentions that Azuela poignantly brings into question. It is a short novel well worth your while.
An interesting glimpse into the chaotic world of a group of anti-federalist soldiers in Mexico's revolutionary period. Perspectives are humanistic and while at first demonstrate the idealistic attitude and machismo of the revoultion become distorted when exposed to the harsh realities of the conflict. Text resonates with the cyclical nature of the Mexican power struggle. Important read for anyone who seeks deeper understanding of the conflicts that plagued mexico in a sociopolitical context.
Interestingly written, the book jumps characters and perspectives. It was ok, but I had to read it for a class so maybe it would be more enjoyable as a casual read . It does however, correlate very well with the actual history of the Mexican Revolution.
Azuela’s most famous work is a strange mixture of profundity and triviality. Originally written as a series of newspaper columns, “The Underdogs” realistically depicts the brutality of guerrilla warfare as practiced in the Mexican Revolution, without digging below the surface of its many characters. Azuela, who was a doctor with the revolutionary forces, reports a hundred episodes and a thousand deaths while telling the story of an accidental rebel commander named Demetrio. Wherever Demetrio goes, carnage follows. Fighting becomes his way of life, as allegiances shift, and pulling the trigger again and again becomes like breathing. Important as a document of fascinating piece of history, the book’s lack of insight or perspective makes reading it a hard slog.
The best novel of the Mexican Revolution? Well, it was insightful, basic writing about uneducated people who fought. Made me wonder about my ancestors. I could almost see them in the writing. I would recommend the book
Isn't it always true that power corrupts? Doesn't war self-perpetuate? The characters in this book really came to life, but be prepared for unconventional writing. The author strove to keep the translation as close as possible to the original text, but the result, I thought, was a little iffy. I'd love to read it in another translation. Yes, I liked it enough to read it again.
Great book! It is, in my opinion, a good translation that tries to convey the same feelings and emotions that the original copy, written in Spanish, conveys. It is definitely worth the money.
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