Dominican Republic / All works
Narrative
Memorias de un cortesano de la Era de Trujillo
Not translated into English
Joaquín Balaguer · 1988
Synopsis
A former servant of the dictatorship tells the story of his own life, from childhood to his first twelve years in the presidency, through memories and reflections: his education, his beginnings in the administration, the posts he held under Trujillo, his judgements on the letters and on the men of his time. In the middle of the book, a page is left blank: it concerns the murder of a journalist, and the author announces that it will one day speak, so that history may hear his voice.
Context
The book appeared in 1988, during its author's second long term in office. Acento notes the care he took not to make it an apologia, but also the contradiction with his earlier writings, which celebrated Trujillo. The blank page concerns the murder of Orlando Martínez, which took place during the author's first long term in office; according to Diario Libre and the organisation Ifex, a close associate was to fill it in after the author's death; Diario Libre names Rafael Bello Andino, his collaborator.
Who it is for
In Spanish; the memoirs of a statesman, to be read alongside historians' studies of the dictatorship and of the years 1966-1978.
Prizes and reception
A much-discussed book in the Dominican Republic, above all for the blank page that its author promised to make speak.
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