The assimilation of the cuban thriller by Roberto Ampuero

Abstract

The literary work of Roberto Ampuero, one of the outstanding representatives of the thriller in the Chilean novel, has been influenced by the twenty years he spent living in Germany and in Cuba. He became enthusiastic with detective stories and stories of counterespionage written by L.R. Nogueras, G. Rodriguez Rivera and D. Chavarria. These Cuban authors assimilated the main traits of the traditional genre, rejecting, however, in accordance with Marxist anthropology, the typical detective who, independently of police organizations, solves mysteries with his extraordinary personal talent. Ampuero assimilates from the Cuban novels the international atmosphere, the political-ideological struggle, and a vivid sensuality, creating a detective (Cayetano Brulé) a pragmatic Cuban-Chilean who enjoys himself.