Read Around the World. Argentina

“…everything alive lives off the death of someone or something else. Because nothing comes from nothing…”

The Adventures of China Iron by Argentinian author Gabriela Cabezón Cámara was shortlisted for the 2020 International Man Booker prize. It is a queer postcolonial retelling of the 1872 epic poem about gaucho Martín Fierro by José Hernández. The main character is Martín Fierro’s teenage wife China. China (“Cheena”) is actually a generic Spanish word for wife or girl. After Martín is press-ganged into the army, as part of the Argentinian authorities’ attempt to clear rural gaucho communities, she sets off with her dog Estreya (Star) to find her own freedom. China renames herself Josephine Star Iron (the English version of Fierro).

What follows, as they join the wagon journey of red-headed Scottish Liz across the Argentinian pampas, can only be described as a fever-dream riotous adventure. Liz and China meet up with Rosarió, who represents the wild nomadic life and horsemanship of the gauchos, herding cattle across the plains. The three, along with the dog Estreya form an unlikely alliance as a found family, and make their way to General Hernández’ fort in search of Liz’s husband. Hernández is a pompous example of colonialism and has stolen and published Martín Fierro’s poetry as his own. Liz and China (now Jo) succumb to the sexual tension building between them and instigate an orgy to facilitate their escape from the fort.

In the later part of the novel the three join the Indigenous Iñchiñ and become part of their peace-loving community. The retelling of the poem shifts the portrayal of the Indigeneous people as savage and violent to an opposite stereotype, that of a hallucinogen consuming, free-loving commune.

I found this an exuberant story with a surreal quality to it. It incorporates vivid descriptions of the natural habitat of the pampas and both some Spanish and Guaraní vocabulary. There were some disturbing scenes along the way, and sexual violence presented in a Baz Luhrmann-esque fashion. Overall this was an entertaining and unique read. ( )

Some basic background in Argentine-Gaucho poetry is very helpful in enjoying this book. Specifically an epic poem Martin Fierro. As I understand it, this poem holds a similar place of pride as The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus on the base of the Statue of Liberty. Only Martin Fierro is over 2,300 lines long. Luckily, you don't need to actually read Martin Fierro to enjoy this book, just a base-line understanding.

The book is a modern feminist reply to Martin Fierro. The main character is Martin's wife. When we meet her, her name is China, pronounced cheena - basically a common and somewhat belittling word for girl or young woman. China is an orphan and abandoned wife who no one ever bothered to name.

She meets up with an English woman named Liz and they go off on a magical adventure across the Argentina pampas - a prairie/plains landscape. Liz gives China a real name - Josephine, and also becomes her first love and true lover.

Liz and Josephine (later shortened to Jo) travel in what seems to be a magical wagon full of food, books, art, dishes and silverware, clothes of all descriptions, a barrel of whiskey, a giant bed - I can only imagine how big this wagon is. They are accompanied by Jo's dog Estraya and quickly collect a fellow traveler on the way Rosario - later shortened to Rosa.

For such a short book, there is a ton going on. Big themes of the violence and brutality of colonialism, Class differences between Spanish, English, Gauchos and Indians. Plenty vs want. Farming vs ranching.

And lots and lots of everybody having sex with just about everybody else. Lots of emphasis on expressions of gender.

Fair warnings - the book isn't over the top graphic, but it was a little more on the erotica side than I thought I was signing up for when I picked up the book. Alternating with the sex scenes, the violence is even more graphic and sometimes really disturbing. ( )