The Mexican Novel in Times of Rupture

“The Mexican Novel in Times of Rupture is a must-read book for all those interested in the response of Mexican writers to the global challenges in the neoliberal era. Theorizing from perspectives on globalization and postmodernism, Jaimes’ sharp critical thinking sheds light on the complex dynamics of the post-NAFTA literary field through well-researched and incisive case studies that aptly approach key debates in contemporary Mexico.”

—Tomás Regalado-López, Professor of Latin American Literature, James Madison University, USA.

“This insightful study examines how global capitalism has disrupted social structures, a rupture that modern Mexican novels both critique and adapt to in innovative ways. Jaimes provides an in-depth analysis of works by authors such as Yuri Herrera, Jorge Volpi, Eloy Urroz, and Valeria Luiselli, among others. Engaging with the most current bibliography, he combines literary analysis with a robust theoretical framework, drawing from sociology, economics, and philosophy—particularly the works of Zygmunt Bauman and David Harvey. Through thematic clusters, he examines how these novels grapple with ethics, history, love, and literary form, offering a nuanced understanding of their cultural and political significance. This book is an essential resource for readers seeking to understand how contemporary Mexican literature reflects and responds to neoliberalism, shifting identities, and evolving literary techniques. Jaimes’ interdisciplinary approach and theoretical depth make this a compelling study of literature’s role in navigating the complexities of our globalized world.”

—Luis Duno-Gottberg, Lee Hage Jamail Professor of Latin American Studies, Rice University, USA.

This book offers a close reading analysis of contemporary Mexican authors whose novels, in both form and content, are reshaped by the forces of globalization and postmodernism. Drawing on an interdisciplinary approach, the author examines the works of Jorge Volpi, Yuri Herrera, Guillermo Fadanelli, Eloy Urroz, Julián Herbert, Álvaro Enrigue, Valeria Luiselli, Pedro Ángel Palou, Guadalupe Nettel, Verónica Gerber Bicecci, and Mario Bellatin, exploring the themes of globalization, ethics, history, love, and literary forms. By addressing the critical intersections of these issues, the book makes a timely contribution to the study of contemporary Mexican literature in the context of a rapidly changing world.

Héctor Jaimes is Professor of Latin American Literature and Culture at North Carolina State University, USA. His published authored works include Filosofía del muralismo mexicano: Orozco, Rivera y Siqueiros (2012) and La reescritura de la historia en el ensayo hispanoamericano (2001). His edited works include Pedro Ángel Palou y la novela infinita (2023), Mario Bellatin y las formas de la escritura (2020), The Mexican Crack Writers: History and Criticism (2017), Tu hija Frida: Cartas a mamá (2016), Fundación del muralismo mexicano: Textos inéditos de David Alfaro Siqueiros (2012) and Octavio Paz: La dimensión estética del ensayo (2004).