The Eagle's Throne cover

The Eagle's Throne

Rating 3.9
Word count
191K words
Chapters
71
ISBN
9787533979935

Tags

Summary

This is Fuentes's epistolary novel. Set in the near future, the story begins when the United States cuts off all of Mexico's communication systems—no telephones, fax machines, or internet; people can communicate only by letter. Mexico plunges into a vast nightmare. Meanwhile, a battle for the presidency has quietly begun. Power struggles intensify, lies and betrayals unfold in succession, and conspiracies and scandals proliferate. Through seventy letters, Fuentes sketches in dark tones a comic, absurd yet realistic microcosm of society, constructing a near-future Mexican fable. When society loses its voice, power begins to speak.

Editor's review

The Eagle's Throne is Fuentes's late epistolary novel, set in a near-future Mexico where communications have been cut off, using seventy letters to assemble a panorama of the struggle for power. The epistolary form allows each letter writer to present only one side of themselves; readers must read between the lines to identify lies, betrayals, and conspiracies—the act of reading itself becomes a process of solving a puzzle. In a darkly comic register, Fuentes weaves political scandal and social absurdity into a fable close to reality: when society loses its voice, power monopolizes discourse. Zhao Deming's translation preserves the original's satirical edge. This book suits readers interested in Latin American literature, political fables, and narrative experimentation, as well as those who enjoy the pleasure of piecing together a puzzle and are willing to flip back and forth between letters. It is not a novel that offers answers, but a satire that warns against the language of power.

Who it's for

A good fit for

  • Readers who enjoy Latin American literature and Fuentes's works
  • Readers of fiction interested in epistolary form, multiple perspectives, and other formal experiments
  • Readers concerned with political fable and critiques of power
  • Readers who hope to understand Mexican society and political culture through fiction

Not a good fit for

  • Readers who prefer linear narrative and need a clear protagonist
  • Readers looking for light entertainment or warm-hearted stories
  • Readers not interested in political satire and absurdist tones

Reading tips

  1. Start by making a list of letter writers, noting each letter's signature and stance as you read, to help identify the network of relationships.
  2. Don't rush to judge whether the information in the letters is true or false; read on and then look back at earlier letters to appreciate how the lies are laid.
  3. You may group the seventy letters by stages of the power struggle and observe how the situation spirals out of control step by step.
  4. After finishing, reread the opening letters to reinterpret the obscured motives and foreshadowing within them.

About the publisher

Zhejiang Literature and Art Publishing House is a Chinese publisher specializing in literary publishing. Judging from the 808 titles in the database, its publishing areas cover world classics, foreign literature, social novels, folk literature and classic works, as well as modern and contemporary literature and prose. Representative titles include foreign literary translations such as Anna Karenina, The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, In Praise of Shadows and The Complete Tragedies and Comedies of Shakespeare, alongside classic works by Lao She and Lu Xun such as Camel Xiangzi, Teahouse and Wandering. Its authors and translators include Leo Tolstoy, Cao Ying, Lao She, Yukio Mishima, Jun'ichirō Tanizaki and Zhu Shenghao. The press emphasizes the translation and introduction of classic texts and the compilation of native literary works, giving equal weight to Chinese and foreign literature. Owing to limited public information, its specific series and editorial policies are not elaborated here.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 信一 玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万致尼高拉斯·巴尔迪维亚
  3. 信二 “智囊塞内加”哈维尔·撒拉格萨致玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万
  4. 信三 玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万致尼高拉斯·巴尔迪维亚
  5. 信四 安第诺·阿尔玛森致罗伦索·特兰总统
  6. 信五 尼高拉斯·巴尔迪维亚致玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万
  7. 信六 贝尔纳·埃雷拉致罗伦索·特兰总统
  8. 信七 玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万致尼高拉斯·巴尔迪维亚
  9. 信八 “智囊塞内加”哈维尔·撒拉格萨致罗伦索·特兰总统
  10. 信九 玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万致贝尔纳·埃雷拉
  11. 信十 财政部部长阿尔玛森的妻子“金瓜子”致塔西托·德拉·卡纳尔
  12. 信十一 尼高拉斯·巴尔迪维亚致玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万
  13. 信十二 贝尔纳·埃雷拉致玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万
  14. 信十三 尼高拉斯·巴尔迪维亚致玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万
  15. 信十四 杜尔塞·德拉·卡尔萨致玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万
  16. 信十五 前总统塞萨尔·莱昂致现任总统罗伦索·特兰
  17. 信十六 尼高拉斯·巴尔迪维亚致玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万
  18. 信十七 西塞罗·阿鲁萨将军致猛龙·冯·巴尔特拉将军
  19. 信十八 贝尔纳·埃雷拉致玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万
  20. 信十九 尼高拉斯·巴尔迪维亚致玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万
  21. 信二十 “智囊塞内加”哈维尔·撒拉格萨致罗伦索·特兰总统
  22. 信二十一 前总统塞萨尔·莱昂致塔西托·德拉·卡纳尔
  23. 信二十二 安第诺·阿尔玛森致妻子“金瓜子”
  24. 信二十三 西塞罗·阿鲁萨将军致猛龙·冯·巴尔特拉将军
  25. 信二十四 尼高拉斯·巴尔迪维亚致玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万
  26. 信二十五 安第诺·阿尔玛森致罗伦索·特兰总统
  27. 信二十六 “金瓜子”阿尔玛森太太致塔西托·德拉·卡纳尔
  28. 信二十七 西塞罗·阿鲁萨将军致猛龙·冯·巴尔特拉将军
  29. 信二十八 杜尔塞·德拉·卡尔萨致托马斯·蒙特祖玛·莫罗
  30. 信二十九 塔西托·德拉·卡纳尔致罗伦索·特兰总统
  31. 信三十 尼高拉斯·巴尔迪维亚致玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万
  32. 信三十一 玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万致尼高拉斯·巴尔迪维亚
  33. 信三十二 玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万致贝尔纳·埃雷拉
  34. 信三十三 尼高拉斯·巴尔迪维亚致玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万
  35. 信三十四 玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万致尼高拉斯·巴尔迪维亚
  36. 信三十五 尼高拉斯·巴尔迪维亚致赫苏斯·里卡多·玛贡
  37. 信三十六 玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万致罗伦索·特兰总统
  38. 信三十七 贝尔纳·埃雷拉致罗伦索·特兰总统
  39. 信三十八 塔西托·德拉·卡纳尔致玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万
  40. 信三十九 玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万致塔西托·德拉·卡纳尔
  41. 信四十 前总统塞萨尔·莱昂致国会议长奥内西莫·卡纳瓦尔
  42. 信四十一 塔西托·德拉·卡纳尔致玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万
  43. 信四十二 贝尔纳·埃雷拉致玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万
  44. 信四十三 众议员奥内西莫·卡纳瓦尔致女众议员保利娜·达尔特卡达
  45. 信四十四 尼高拉斯·巴尔迪维亚致玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万
  46. 信四十五 西塞罗·阿鲁萨将军致猛龙·冯·巴尔特拉将军
  47. 信四十六 尼高拉斯·巴尔迪维亚致赫苏斯·里卡多·玛贡
  48. 信四十七 “智囊塞内加”哈维尔·撒拉格萨致罗伦索·特兰总统
  49. 信四十八 女众议员保利娜·达尔特卡达致众议员奥内西莫·卡纳瓦尔
  50. 信四十九 玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万致贝尔纳·埃雷拉
  51. 信五十 “智囊塞内加”哈维尔·撒拉格萨致玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万
  52. 信五十一 尼高拉斯·巴尔迪维亚致赫苏斯·里卡多·玛贡
  53. 信五十二 尼高拉斯·巴尔迪维亚致塔西托·德拉·卡纳尔
  54. 信五十三 塔西托·德拉·卡纳尔致安第诺·阿尔玛森
  55. 信五十四 “门廊老翁”致女众议员保利娜·达尔特卡达
  56. 信五十五 “金瓜子”阿尔玛森太太致塔西托·德拉·卡纳尔
  57. 信五十六 杜尔塞·德拉·卡尔萨致“门廊老翁”
  58. 信五十七 塔西托·德拉·卡纳尔致“金瓜子”阿尔玛森太太
  59. 信五十八 尼高拉斯·巴尔迪维亚致前总统塞萨尔·莱昂
  60. 信五十九 猛龙·冯·巴尔特拉将军致尼高拉斯·巴尔迪维亚
  61. 信六十 奥内西莫·卡纳瓦尔致尼高拉斯·巴尔迪维亚
  62. 信六十一 赫苏斯·里卡多·玛贡致尼高拉斯·巴尔迪维亚
  63. 信六十二 尼高拉斯·巴尔迪维亚致玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万
  64. 信六十三 玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万致尼高拉斯·巴尔迪维亚
  65. 信六十四 玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万致贝尔纳·埃雷拉
  66. 信六十五 保利娜·达尔特卡达致尼高拉斯·巴尔迪维亚
  67. 信六十六 猛龙·冯·巴尔特拉将军致尼高拉斯·巴尔迪维亚
  68. 信六十七 奥内西莫·卡纳瓦尔致尼高拉斯·巴尔迪维亚
  69. 信六十八 贝尔纳·埃雷拉致玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万
  70. 信六十九 玛利亚·德尔·罗萨里奥·加尔万致贝尔纳·埃雷拉
  71. 信七十 (罗伦索·埃雷拉·加尔万)

FAQ

Is this a traditional first-person or third-person novel?
No. The book consists of seventy letters and has no omniscient narrator; readers can only piece events together through the letters of different writers. Each person's letter carries their own stance and concealments, so information must be cross-checked, and maintaining skepticism while reading will bring you closer to the truth.
Can I read it without background knowledge of Latin American politics?
Yes. The novel is set in a near-future Mexico, and its core is the struggle for power and the social disorder following the communications cutoff—themes that do not depend on specific historical knowledge. Background details can be looked up as you read without affecting your understanding of the main conspiracy and character relationships.
Isn't the epistolary form very fragmented to read?
It may feel jumpy at first, but the seventy letters advance around the struggle for the presidency, with characters and events echoing back and forth. It is advisable to take simple notes on the letter writers; by the middle and later sections you will find the threads gradually converging, and the sense of fragmentation turns into the puzzle-like pleasure of reading.

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About the author

Carlos Fuentes is an important author in the field of foreign literature. His representative works include Aura, The Death of Artemio Cruz, The Years with Laura Díaz, The Blind Man's Song, The Glass Border, Diana, the Lonely Huntress, The Five Suns of Mexico, and The Eagle's Throne. Public information about his nationality, birth and death dates, and similar details is limited and cannot be confirmed. The library holds nine of his works, covering novels and short stories. His writing often interweaves reality and fantasy, with intricate narrative structures, and he is skilled at connecting history with individual destiny in a language full of tension. Translated into Chinese, his works provide an important reference for readers to understand Latin American literature, and they have influenced the narrative ideas of many later writers, occupying a unique place in contemporary foreign literature.

赵德明 Author

Zhao Deming is a Chinese translator long engaged in introducing Spanish-language literature to Chinese readers. Public information about him is limited, and his dates of birth and death, nationality, and educational background are not clearly recorded. Judging from the thirteen works held in the collection, his translation focuses on Latin American and Spanish-language fiction, including Mario Vargas Llosa's The City and the Dogs, The Feast of the Goat, Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter, and A Fish in the Water: A Memoir, as well as Roberto Bolaño's 2666: Collector's Edition, Last Evenings on Earth, and a two-volume set of short stories. These translations mostly belong to foreign literary classics, nonfiction, and essays, with some suspense and detective fiction, showing his ability to handle the narrative structures and complex character relationships of long novels. His translations are faithful to the originals, plain and fluent in language, and provide Chinese readers with relatively reliable access to contemporary Spanish-language literature.

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