The Dimension "Time" in Two Hispanic Novelists (Alejo Carpentier y Manuel Vazquez-Bigi)

Abstract

The dimension of time sometimes combined with that of space (thus embodying the concept of "chronotope," as Mikhail Bakhtin defined it) is a recurrent theme in literature, especially since the 19th century; therefore, many modern and contemporary writers approached it from various points of view, suggesting different interpretations. During the last century, the great representatives of the Latin American Boom paid a special attention to this literary issue, as we may witness (re)reading their masterpieces. In order to prove this particular interest, this essay analyzes the work of two novelists, belonging to different generations, cultural environments and occupations, but also very different as far as their own style of writing, aesthetic approach, artistic language and specific narrative strategies are concerned. These two are the Cuban Alejo Carpentier and the Argentine Manuel Vazquez-Bigi. (C) 2019 by The Transformative Studies Institute. All rights reserved.