our_lady_of_the_circus_toscana
2003 Nominated

Our Lady of the Circus

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ABOUT
THE BOOK

Our Lady of the Circus begins with the break-up of the once-formidable circus of the Mantecón Brothers, resulting in one brother taking with him the crème of the performers. Left behind is brother Don Alejo, who tries to rally the remaining troupe of eight stragglers and a pig. Together they stumble upon an abandoned town, where the demoralised company seizes the opportunity to start over and christen their newfound home Santa María of the Circus.
What ensues is a poignant look at the absurdities and tragedies that befall the misfits in their struggle to create new lives for themselves.

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR David
Toscana

David Toscana was born in Monterrey in the northern Mexican state of Nuevo León in 1961. After leaving school, he qualified as an engineer and worked in Ciudad Juárez. He started to write at the age of 29. His literary influences, in terms of reading for enjoyment’s sake, were classic Spanish writers like Cervantes and Calderón as well as classic Russian writers, but in terms of the obsession with writing itself, he was influenced by the new Latin American writers Juan Carlos Onetti and José Donoso.

David Toscana was born in Monterrey in the northern Mexican state of Nuevo León in 1961. After leaving school, he qualified as an engineer and worked in Ciudad Juárez. He started to write at the age of 29. His literary influences, in terms of reading for enjoyment’s sake, were classic Spanish writers like Cervantes and Calderón as well as classic Russian writers, but in terms of the obsession with writing itself, he was influenced by the new Latin American writers Juan Carlos Onetti and José Donoso.

ABOUT
THE TRANSLATOR Patricia
J. Duncan

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Country
Mexico
Original Language
Spanish
Author
Publisher
St. Martin’s Press
Translator
Patricia J. Duncan

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