The News from Paraguay - Lily Tuck

A historical epic that tells an unusual love story, The News from Paraguay offers a kaleidoscopic portrait of 19th-century Paraguay, a largely untouched wilderness where Europeans and North Americans intermingle with both the old Spanish aristocracy and native Guaran' Indians. n nBrimming with rich descriptions of a beautiful country....The News From Paraguay evolves from a quirky, elegant tale of an unconventional love affair into a sweeping epic. -- Fort Worth Star-Telegramn nLily Tuck's impressive novel offers a kaleidoscopic portrait of 19th century Paraguay, a largely untouched wilderness where European and American figures mix with the Spanish aristocracy of the capital and the indigenous peoples from the surrounding areas.

n nThe year is l854. In Paris, Francisco Solano--the future dictator of Paraguay--begins his courtship of the young, beautiful Irish courtesan Ella Lynch with a poncho, a Paraguayan band, and a horse named Mathilde. Ella follows Franco to Asunción and reigns there as his mistress.

Isolated and estranged in this new world, she embraces her lover's ill-fated imperial dream--one fueled by a heedless arrogance that will devastate all of Paraguay.n nWith the urgency of the narrative, rich and intimate detail, and a wealth of skillfully layered characters, The News from Paraguay recalls the epic novels of Gabriel García Márquez and Mario Vargas Llosa.n