Editors Reads Verdict
A fittingly exuberant conclusion to the South American trilogy — the village community at its most resilient, the political satire at its most savage, and de Bernières's comic gifts at full stretch.
What We Loved
- The village community fully realised
- The Inquisition satire is savage and funny
- A satisfying conclusion to the trilogy
Minor Drawbacks
- Works less well as a standalone than the earlier volumes
- Some narrative threads feel slightly rushed
Key Takeaways
- → Community as the ultimate form of resistance
- → The recurring horror of religious persecution
- → The resilience of ordinary human life against extraordinary violence
| Author | Louis de Bernières |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Vintage |
| Pages | 368 |
| Published | January 1, 1992 |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Satire |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Best For | Readers who have completed the first two South American novels |
Cardinal Guzman has a son — zealous, violent, convinced of the righteousness of a new Inquisition — who proceeds to lead a campaign of religious persecution through the Colombian countryside. The village of Cochadebajo, populated by the survivors of the earlier novels and their accumulated supernatural history, must survive this new threat as it has survived armies, coca lords, and corrupt governments.
The third and final volume of de Bernières’s South American trilogy brings together all the characters and themes of the earlier books — the village community, the intertwined supernatural and natural worlds, the cast of soldiers, priests, peasants, and lovers who have accumulated across three novels — and gives them a conclusion that is both funny and moving. The Inquisition is a subject that seems almost too easy for satire, but de Bernières handles it with enough historical intelligence to make the jokes cut.
The village of Cochadebajo is one of the great communities in contemporary fiction — diverse, quarrelsome, resilient, capable of absorbing violence without being destroyed by it. The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman is the least standalone of the trilogy but the most satisfying read for anyone who has come to love these characters across the three books.
Reading Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What is "The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman" about?
The final South American novel — Cardinal Guzman's son leads a new Inquisition through the Colombian countryside, while the village of Cochadebajo survives through community, love, and the supernatural.
Who should read "The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman"?
Readers who have completed the first two South American novels
What are the key takeaways from "The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman"?
Community as the ultimate form of resistance The recurring horror of religious persecution The resilience of ordinary human life against extraordinary violence
Is "The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman" worth reading?
A fittingly exuberant conclusion to the South American trilogy — the village community at its most resilient, the political satire at its most savage, and de Bernières's comic gifts at full stretch.
Ready to Read The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman?
Check the current price on Amazon.
Check Price on Amazon (paid link)Prices and availability are subject to change. See Amazon for current price.
Review last updated: