39 pages • 1 hour read
The Tattooed Soldier
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Summary and Study Guide
Overview
The Tattooed Soldier (1998) is a novel written by author and journalist Héctor Tobar. Tobar worked for the LA Times at the time of the 1992 Los Angeles riots, and his work covering that event contributed to a Pulitzer Prize. This experience directly informs this novel, which is set in LA in the weeks prior to the riots, as well as in Guatemala. Much of Tobar’s work focuses on the relationship between the United States and Latin America, a complex dynamic that shapes the novel’s key themes.
Plot Summary
The novel follows the lives of two Guatemalan immigrants. Both men survived the long period of violence and repression that dominated Guatemala in the 20th century. Antonio Bernal was a victim of this period, losing his wife and son, while Guillermo Longoria was the violent soldier who killed Antonio’s family. Despite Longoria’s past, he is also depicted as a victim of the Guatemalan government, as he was kidnapped by the military and pressed into service as a young child.
As the novel begins, we experience Antonio’s first days of homelessness. Unable to pay rent, he and his Mexican roommate Unlock all 39 pages of this Study Guide Plus, gain access to 8,900+ more expert-written Study Guides. Including features:
Related Titles
By Héctor Tobar
