by Carmen Rodríguez (Author)
Firmly rooted in historical events, Atacama tells the story of Manuel Garay, the son of a communist miner/union leader and an anarchist organizer of working-class women, and Lucía Céspedes, the daughter of a fascist army officer and a socialite. A fateful turn of events leads to twelve-year-old Lucía befriending twelve-year-old Manuel, inextricably connecting them to a common denominator: Lucía's adoring father and the perpetrator of the heinous crimes that have caused both children immeasurable suffering. Manuel and Lucía forge a friendship that grows as they come of age and realize that their lives are not only linked by Ernesto Céspedes' actions, but also by a deep understanding of the other's emotional predicaments, their commitment to social justice and their belief in the power of writing and art. Set in the first half of the twentieth century, but resonating loudly with today's changing times, beautifully crafted Atacama covers themes related to class, gender, trauma, survival and the role of art in society.
Author Biography
Carmen Rodríguez is the author of multiple works, including Guerra Prolongada/Protracted War, a bilingual volume of poetry; and a body to remember with/De cuerpo entero, a collection of short stories; and Retribution, a novel. Rodríguez has worked extensively as an educator and journalist, including extensive work in adult literacy and popular education, particularly with Indigenous Peoples and other marginalized communities in the Americas. In 2019, the Canadian Association of Spanish Language Scholars and Creators dedicated its annual Homage and Exhibition to Carmen Rodríguez's work, and in 2020 she was nominated for a Vancouver-YWCA "Women of Distinction" Award.