Dear Rafe / Mi querido RafaWelcome to Klail City, in Belken County, along the Mexico border in TexasÍ Rio Grande Valley. In the weeks leading up to the Democratic primary, Jehu Malacara chronicles the political rabble-rousing of Klail CityÍs wealthiest citizens in letters to his cousin Rafe Buenrostro. Led by Arnold ñNoddyî Perkins, the whoÍs who of Belken County create a complex web of relationships. Wrangling bank loans, club memberships, and local politics, Perkins dominates the political and economic landscape of the community. When Malacara turns up missing, and the writer, P. Galindo, begins interviewing the citizens, tales of deceit and betrayal float to the surface. From JehuÍs knockout girlfriend Ollie to up-and-coming socialite Becky Escobar and even to old man Perkins himself, Hinojosa offers a feast of quirky characters and misdeeds. Part epistolary, part mystery novel, the population of Klail City makes an indelible impression. With an introduction by Hinojosa scholar Manuel MartÕn-RodrÕguez, a professor at University of California ? Merced, this volume combines for the first time the English and Spanish-language versions of the novel that creates a fictitious community that The New York Times compared to William FaulknerÍs Yoknapatawpha and Gabriel GarcÕa MàrquezÍs Macondo. |
Contents
Martin San Esteban | 65 |
Viola Barragan | 68 |
Bowly TG Ponder | 72 |
Olivia San Esteban | 75 |
Viola Barragan | 78 |
Rebecca Escobar | 79 |
Sammie Jo Perkins | 82 |
Arnold Perkins | 84 |
EB Cooke | 87 |
Rufino Fischer Gutierrez | 90 |
Bowly TG Ponder | 94 |
Mrs Ben Edith Timmens | 96 |
P Galindo the wri | 99 |
Eugenio Isidro Peralta Klail City Twins | 100 |
Lucas Barron | 104 |
Polin Tapia | 107 |
Vicente de la Cerda | 110 |
Emilio Tamez | 112 |
Arturo Leyva | 115 |
Esther Lucille Bewley | 117 |
Don Javier Leguizamon | 120 |
Jovita de Anda Tamez | 123 |
Part III | 125 |
A Penultimate Note | 126 |
Brass Tacks Are Best They Last Longer | 127 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
ahora años Anyway aunque Austin banco Bank Becky Belken Best better bien Bowly Club comes como Cooke County course Dear Rafe decir dice dijo don't El esc Escobar Esther esto EUGENIO friends Galindo gente give habla hand happened he's hear heard hell Hinojosa Ira's it's Jehú Jehu's Klail City land Leguizamón loan look luego más mean mexicanos Morse Terry Noddy Noddy's Ollie once para Perkins pero poco politics Press querido Rafa Ranch raza remember Rolando sabes Sammie side sure talk tell Texas that's there's thing tiempo told Valle Valley Viola wants
Popular passages
Page 9 - Public Notice: The offer to Ira appears to be on the level. Noddy Perkins' sister (more on her in a minute) came by the Bank einszwei-drei times, and where there's smoke, there's a political barbecue, right? Tidy-up time: you're wrong on the Escobar familial relationships, and I'll explain why in short order. Ira's an Escobar on his father's side (old Don Nemesio Escobar, who's related to the Prado families from Barrones, Tamaulipas. Got that?) But, Ira also happens to be a Leguizamon, sad to say,...
Page 7 - Jay, Jay, don't you see? County Commissioner Place Four, the/or one, Jay." (Yes, he calls me Jay). About all I could think of was to wonder what Noddy, the Ranch, the Bank, etc. were up to this time; I mean, they already own most of the land 'in these here parts' and they have ALL THAT MONEY, SON; so it's prob.