Journey Back to the Source (Masterplots II: Short Story Series, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Alejo Carpentier
- First Published: 1958
- Type of Plot: Fantasy
- Time of Work: Unspecified
- Setting: A Latin American or Caribbean country
- Principal Characters: Don Marcial, Marques de Capellanias
- Genres: Short fiction, Fantasy
- Subjects: Maturation or coming of age, Africa or Africans, Sex or sexuality, Death or dying, Funeral rites or ceremonies, Life and death, Biography, Priests, Houses, mansions, or manors, Nobility
- Locales: Caribbean, Latin America
The Story
This story traces the life of Don Marcial from his death back to his birth. It begins with the impending destruction of his house some time after his death. In twelve more sections, noted by roman numerals, the reader is escorted backward through the stages in Marcial's life. Each section provides details that typify these stages.
Marcial has already died when an old manservant literally opens the door into the house and the time frame moves to Marcial's funeral. Continuing to move backward in time, the story tells about his life as an old man, a middle-aged...
[The entire page is 1342 words long]
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