Amalia: A Romance of the Argentine

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Originally serialized while author Jos Mrmol lived in exile in Montevideo, Amalia: A Romance of the Argentine (1851) became a symbol of Argentine national identity following the defeat of brutal dictator Juan Manuel de Rosas in 1852. Mrmol, a leading critic of the Rosist regime, used autobiographical details to compose this masterful story of romance and political resistance, elevating the personal to the level of the national without losing sight of the everyday struggle of dissidents.

Amalia follows two lovers brought together by political repression during the violent regime of caudillo Jaun Manuel de Rosas. Eduardo, a dissident forced into hiding, finds safety at the home of Amalia, a beautiful young woman. Protected by Amalia and her cousin Daniel, Eduardo grows weary of living in constant fear of the Rosist death squads stalking the streets of Buenos Aires, and longs for a day when liberty and justice will set him free. Despite their blossoming romance, Eduardo and Amalia know they face mortal danger, and that every decision they make will come with the risk of discovery. Yet, the perservere.

Amalia remains a timeless work of Latin American fiction from a leading figure of the Romantic era. This professionally designed edition of Jos Mrmols Amalia: A Romance of the Argentine is a classic of Argentine literature reimagined for modern readers.

Author Bio

Jos Mrmol (1818-1871) was an Argentine poet, novelist, and journalist. Born and raised in Buenos Aires, he left law school for a career in politics. In 1839, he was arrested by the regime of Juan Manuel de Rosas and was forced to flee within two years for his political opposition. In Montevideo, he befriended a vibrant community of fellow exiles including Esteban Echeverra and Juan Bautista Alberdi. Several years later, Mrmol fled to Rio de Janeiro following the siege of Montevideo by Manuel Oribe, an ally of Rosas. He returned in 1845 and remained in Uruguay for seven years. In the Uruguayan capital, he founded three journals and gained a reputation as a prominent political poet. His twelve-canto autobiographical poem El Peregrino (1847) and a collection of his lyric poems placed Mrmol at the forefront of the Latin American Romantic school. He is perhaps remembered most for his Costumbrist novel Amalia (1851), which was recognized as Argentinas national novel following the defeat of Rosas in 1852. Mrmol returned after thirteen years in exile to serve as a senator, national deputy, and diplomat to Brazil. From 1858 until his retirement due to blindness, Rosas served as the director of the Biblioteca Nacional de la Repblica Argentina, a position later held by his fellow countryman Jorge Luis Borges.