The Lacuna

Viac o knihe

In her most accomplished novel, Barbara Kingsolver takes us on an epic journey from Mexico City, home to artists Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, to America during Pearl Harbor, FDR, and J. Edgar Hoover's era. The story follows Harrison Shepherd, a man caught between two nations as they forge their modern identities. Born in the U.S. and raised in various provisional households in Mexico, he experiences a thrilling odyssey without a true sense of home. His life is shaped by housekeepers, street errands, and a pivotal moment mixing plaster for Rivera. He develops a passion for Aztec history and befriends the formidable Frida Kahlo. Shepherd's work for exiled political leader Lev Trotsky intertwines him with art, revolution, and the risks of violence. Meanwhile, the U.S. is swept into World War II's internationalist goodwill. In his homeland, Shepherd seeks to reinvent himself in America’s hopeful image, finding support from his stenographer, Mrs. Brown, who proves invaluable. As political tides shift, Shepherd navigates the chasm between truth and public perception—the lacuna. Through compelling characters and a vivid sense of place, Kingsolver crafts an unforgettable portrait of the artist and the essence of art itself, solidifying her status as a significant literary voice.