EBOOK Martin Rivas

Widely acknowledged as the first Chilean novel, Martin Rivas (1862) by Alberto        Blest Gana (1830-1920) is at once a passionate love story and an optimistic        representation of Chilean nationhood. Written shortly after a decade of civil        conflict, it is an indispensable source for understanding politics and society in        nineteenth-century Chile.The hero of the story is Martin Rivas, an impoverished but        ambitious youngster from the northern mining region of Chile, who is entrusted by        his late father to the household of a wealthy and influential member of the Santiago        elite. While living there, he falls in love with his guardian's daughter. The tale        of their tortuous but ultimately successful love affair represents the author's        desire for reconciliation between Chile's antagonistic regional and class interests.          Indeed, many critics have interpreted Martin Rivas as a blueprint for national unity        that emphasizes consensus over conflict.In addition to providing commentary about        the mores of Chilean society, Blest Gana documents the enormous gap that existed        between the rich and poor classes. An invaluable text for its portrayal of        contemporary social, political, and class conditions, Martin Rivas illustrates the        enriching influence that romanticism had on nineteenth-century Chilean        literature.