Rewriting Columbus in the New Latin American Historical Novel

Abstract

This work intends to analyze the historical and social relevance of the New Latin American Historical Novel (NLHN) based on the parallel evolution of this literary genre and the new postmodern trends in history. This work will primarily explore how fictional texts question the past from the present perspective and challenge history as a unique discipline for understanding past events. As a specific example of historical revisionism in NLHNs, the research will examine the rewriting and demystification of Columbus as a hero, highlighting how historical literature has questioned the conquest and its consequences for the history and culture of Latin America. It is evident that the NLHN attempts to explain the actual underdevelopment of Latin America as an outcome closely connected with European intervention, in opposition to a more antiquated view that has seen it as a positive event for this region.