Constancia Y Otras Novelas Para Vírgenes / Constancia and Other Stories for Virgins

El amor nos cegaba una vez m s, aunque nuestra esperanza era que nos iluminara. -Carlos Fuentes

Los fantasmas del pasado y del presente conviven en las cinco novelas que conforman esta obra de Carlos Fuentes. El dolor del recuerdo y el amor sin futuro constituyen el mundo de los misteriosos personajes de "Constancia", "La desdichada", "El prisionero de Las Lomas", "Viva mi fama" y "Gente de raz n".

En "Constancia" los fantasmas de una familia de origen ruso, asesinados por soldados franquistas cuando intentaban embarcarse rumbo a Estados Unidos, se reencuentran despu s de cuarenta a os.

En "La desdichada" un enigm tico maniqu con forma de mujer es adquirido por dos estudiantes preparatorianos para que les haga compa a. Poco a poco La Desdichada los har enfrentarse para disputarse su amor y compa a.

En "El prisionero de Las Lomas", el exitoso abogado Nicol s Sarmiento obliga al general Prisciliano Nieves a heredarle su casa y su fortuna a cambio de no revelar el secreto que lo encumbr como el H roe de Santa Eulalia.

"Viva mi fama" cuenta los amores malogrados de Rub n Oliva y Elisia Rodr guez la "privada" del torero Pedro Romero, quien muri en su cama sin siquiera un rasgu o hecho por un toro.

Finalmente, en "Gente de raz n" los hermanos Jos Mar a y Carlos Mar a V lez, reconocidos arquitectos, siguen los preceptos que les inculc su profesor Santiago Ferguson: cada edificio es un ser vivo y con historia.

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

Love blinded us once again, although our hope was that it would illuminate us. -Carlos Fuentes

The ghosts of the past and present coexist in the five novels that make up this work by Carlos Fuentes. The pain of memory and love without a future constitute the world of the mysterious characters in "Constancia," "La desdichada," "El prisionero de Las Lomas," "Viva mi fama," and "Gente de raz n."

In "Constancia," the ghosts of a Russian family, murdered by Francoist soldiers while trying to embark for the United States, reunite after forty years.

In "La desdichada," an enigmatic mannequin in the shape of a woman is acquired by two high school students to keep them company. Little by little, La Desdichada will make them confront each other to compete for her love and companionship.

In "El prisionero de Las Lomas," the successful lawyer Nicol s Sarmiento forces General Prisciliano Nieves to bequeath him his house and fortune in exchange for not revealing the secret that elevated him as the Hero of Santa Eulalia.

"Viva mi fama" tells the ill-fated loves of Rub n Oliva and Elisia Rodr guez, the "private" of the bullfighter Pedro Romero, who died in his bed without even a scratch from a bull.

Finally, in "Gente de raz n," the brothers Jos Mar a and Carlos Mar a V lez, renowned architects, follow the precepts instilled in them by their professor Santiago Ferguson: each building is a living being with a history.