Martin Rivas

Widely acknowledged as the first Chilean novel Martin Rivas (1862) by Alberto Blest Gana (1830-1920) is at once a passionate love story and an optimistic representation of Chilean nationhood. Written shortly after a decade of civil conflict it is an indispensable source for understanding politics and society in nineteenth-century Chile.The hero of the story is Martin Rivas an impoverished but ambitious youngster from the northern mining region of Chile who is entrusted by his late father to the household of a wealthy and influential member of the Santiago elite. While living there he falls in love with his guardian''s daughter. The tale of their tortuous but ultimately successful love affair represents the author''s desire for reconciliation between Chile''s antagonistic regional and class interests. Indeed many critics have interpreted Martin Rivas as a blueprint for national unity that emphasizes consensus over conflict. In addition to providing commentary about the mores of Chilean society Blest Gana documents the enormous gap that existed between the rich and poor classes. An invaluable text for its portrayal of contemporary social political and class conditions Martin Rivas illustrates the enriching influence that romanticism had on nineteenth-century Chilean literature.