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Gauchos -- Poetry Books
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José Hernández
El Gaucho Martín Fierro
"El Gaucho Martín Fierro" by José Hernández is a narrative poem written in 1872. The work tells the story of Martín Fierro, a hardworking gaucho from the Argentine pampas who is forcibly recruited to defend the frontier. After years of abuse and hardship, he deserts and returns home to find his family scattered and his life destroyed. Driven to desperation, he becomes an outlaw, kills two men, and flees to live among indigenous peoples with his companion, Sargento Cruz.
José Hernández
La Vuelta de Martín Fierro
"La Vuelta de Martín Fierro" by José Hernández is a gauchesque poem written in 1879. This sequel finds the once-rebellious outlaw gaucho transformed into a more reflective figure. After fleeing to live among indigenous peoples, Martín Fierro returns to civilization and reunites with his sons. The work shifts focus to the next generation, featuring the famous payada contest and Fierro's immortal advice to his children. Seven years separate this from its predecessor, revealing changes in both character and author.
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