The Picaresque and the Writing Life in Mexico

The Picaresque and the Writing Life in Mexico by Jorge Téllez studies picaresque narratives from 1690 to 2013, examining how they reflect the material conditions necessary for writing literature in Mexico. Téllez argues that the picaresque is a device for pondering the perils of intellectual and creative labor, and that it embodies a discourse of precarity that applies to all subjects who engage in the production and circulation of literature. The book offers a new interpretation of the picaresque within its national context and suggests ways in which it remains relevant for reflecting on literature in contemporary society.

Format: Hardback
Length: 294 pages
Publication date: 15 May 2021
Publisher: University of Notre Dame Press

In his groundbreaking book, "The Picaresque and the Writing Life in Mexico," Jorge Téllez delves into the captivating world of picaresque narratives, spanning from 1690 to 2013. Through a meticulous examination of ten narratives, Téllez uncovers a profound reflection on the material conditions necessary for writing literature in Mexico. He argues that Mexican writers have harnessed the picaresque as a powerful tool to explore the perils of intellectual and creative labor. Téllez's study reveals a fascinating pattern: pícaro, a marginalized figure, meets a writer, who eagerly records their life story. This written mediation, sometimes fictional and sometimes based on actual events, serves as a transactional exchange, where the lines between exploitation and empowerment are blurred. By highlighting this ambiguity, Téllez's work sheds light on the role that the picaresque has played in presenting writers as disenfranchised and vulnerable subjects. However, Téllez's analysis goes beyond the picaresque itself, extending to all subjects engaged in the production and circulation of literature. He demonstrates that the picaresque embodies a discourse of precarity that extends beyond individual pícaros and encompasses the broader production and circulation of literature. Through this lens, Téllez reveals the profound value of literature and the place and role of writing in Mexican society. "The Picaresque and the Writing Life in Mexico" is a groundbreaking work that offers fresh perspectives on the repetition of literary forms across centuries. By focusing on the picaresque in particular, Téllez provides a new interpretation of this genre within its national context and suggests ways in which it remains relevant for reflecting on literature in contemporary society. This book will captivate students and scholars of Latin American Studies, as well as anyone interested in the broader.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780268200176