THE BREACH

by Renato Prado ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 5, 1970

A lowering Bolivian tribute to justice and brotherhood in which dying gladiators of the Right and self-sacrificial martyrs of the Left reach a grisly mutual release in killing and dying. In traditional youthful absolutes, Javier, a rich man's son, forswears Establishment values and hies out to the hills (""I get it; you're doing it for a bet, right, Don Javier?""). His opposite number, never named, is the government Soldier, good humored, cynical and loyal to a raunchy, irreverent friend, ""Parrot."" Guerrillas and government forces stumble toward a total, fatal encounter near an old farmhouse where the young girl Laura lives with her grandfather. And suddenly Laura represents to Javier not only the ""ballast of reality"" within the ideal of the Revolution, but then the ""very sap of life"" which could displace it. Ideals are not easily communicated to the population; the guerrillas are trapped; and Javier, before he dies, warns Laura to escape with their unborn child. The Soldier, deep in remorse, grieves like a brother. Moving at times but one is conscious of the hortatory headlock.

Pub Date: Feb. 5, 1970

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1970

Categories: FICTION