"Doña Bárbara" narra la historia de una rica terrateniente que ha acumulado grandes tierras y manadas extensas de ganados usando a los hombres para su provecho personal y sobornando a los funcionarios locales. Es la obra de mayor éxito de Rómulo Gallegos, en ella dramatiza el conflicto entre civilización y barbarie que a su parecer definía el ser de Venezuela y su realidad. El final feliz simboliza un futuro esperanzador para el país.

Published in 1929, this historical novel is set in Venezuela. It centers on two protagonists, Doña Bárbara and Santos Luzardo, with a large cast of supporting characters. Santos returns from abroad to his run his father’s ranch, Altamira, when he realizes it is controlled by a wealthy, manipulative local landowner, Doña Bárbara. She lives on the neighboring ranch, El Miedo (The Fear). She has had a tumultuous relationship with Lorenzo Barquero, and they have a daughter, Marisela. After spurning both Lorenzo and Marisela, she sets her sights on Santos.

The main theme of this novel is the coming of modern ways to the llanos (plains). The old ways are maintained by Doña Bárbara, and she attempts to take over the land and cattle that belong to Santos. This is a time before fencing of the land, so cattle were routinely “re-branded” and claimed by others. There are many local superstitions. The local people think Doña Bárbara is a sorceress.

I read the English translation by Robert Malloy. It beautifully describes the Venezuelan landscape, including the plains, jungles, rivers, and mountains, each with distinctive flora, fauna, climate, and customs. It is an inhospitable region. This book is similar to an old-fashioned US “western,” but with more poetic writing and set on the Venezuelan plains. It is an allegorical novel, and it will not be difficult to spot the symbolism. The characters are a bit thin, but it is definitely worth reading for its historical significance, especially if you are interested in world literature.
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Un bongo remonta el Arauca bordeando las barrancas de la margen derecha...

The blurb on the cover says "a Madame Bovary of the llano", but really it feels much more akin to Steinbeck's East of Eden, both in setting - ranching and farming - and in content: generational family story centered on a scion of the family returning to the family ranch and trying to do good; and the contrast between love and lust and hate; and the good that good and love eventually works. Some of the comments by the narrative voice and the characters regarding women, indigenous, and racialized peoples are bothersome, but they are product of a time and a place and we cannot deny that these ideas or attitudes did not exist. There is a term in the original that has been translated as "tiger" and I just cannot fathom tigers being out on the plains of Venezuela. ( )

My rating is probably more reflective of my reading preferences than the quality of the book. I did not realize going in that, despite being set in Venezuela, the book was largely a "western". Not being a huge fan of the genre (nor being appreciative of its potential) the book didn't work for me. Not a bad read but not the best for me. ( )