The Last Masquerade: A Novel

by Antonio Orlando Rodriguez

In the tradition of E. L. Doctorow's "Ragtime" comes this exquisitely inventive novel set in the Dionysian exuberance of the Roaring Twenties, featuring an unforgettable and volcanic cast of characters In this hilarious, erotic, and political tragicomedy, two dashing young aristocrats embark on a journey to witness the comeback of their idol -- the sublime Italian actress Eleonora Duse. Duse's encounters with the men reveal a new side to the myth they imagined -- a wearied, reclusive woman, haunted by the fragility of love, and beset by an inordinate intimacy with death. With iconoclastic elegance, Orlando Rodri guez reveals the mystery of a world long forgotten, of two cosmopolitan centers outside Europe and America, where the ruling class had as much fun as anyone else, and, like everyone else, suffered the consequences.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction

496 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1975

About the author

The Cuba-born Antonio Orlando Rodriguez is one of the leading authors of contemporary Latin American fiction. Rodríguez born in Ciego de Avila, Cuba, in 1956. He's written many books for children and teenagers, in addition to the short story books "Striptease" (1985) and "Querido" Drácula (1989), the play "El León y la Domadora (1998) and the novel "Aprendices de brujo" (The Last Masquerade, 2002).
He studied journalism in the Universidad de La Habana, Cuba. He has lived in Costa Rica, Colombia, and, as of 1999, in the United States.

Antonio Orlando Rodríguez es uno de los más destacados autores de la literatura latinoamericana actual. Rodríguez nació en Ciego de Ávila, Cuba, en 1956. Ha escrito numerosos libros para niños y adolescentes, además de las colecciones de cuentos para adultos "Striptease" (1985), la obra de teatro "El León y la Domadora" (1998) y la novela "Aprendices de brujo" (2002).
Estudió periodismo en la Universidad de La Habana. Vivió en Costa Rica, Colombia y, desde 1999, en los Estados Unidos.

Reviews

[Donald · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is wonderful. Havana in the 20's, a gay couple, and the beginning of the Cuban Revolution. What more could you want? How about Eladora Duse! And it has some great laughts!

My ignorance of some of the South American Divas and historical figures, but I use my mother's time honored method and just say "Skip over the River" or go to the internet and look them up.

My one regret is that I don't read Spanish to read more of his works in the original language.

[Lord Beardsley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was so full of promise from the cover...homosexuals, flappers, the 1920s, depravity, decadence...but it ended up just really boring. I just rememberd parties and it was in...South America. But it wasn't interesting. It's a big let-down.

[Ari Rickman · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author does a good job bringing the characters to life. And there are plenty of enjoyable antics and funny situations.

But ultimately the story, like the main character, seems to take itself a little too seriously. It was just hard to care that much about the characters' petty problems.

[Salina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was alright but not worth the time and effort it took to choke it down. It was boring and difficult to follow. Started off pretty good and just didn't go anywhere. But lots of gay love.

[Pablo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Las aventuras de dos caballeros bogotanos en La Habana de los 1920s. Excelente! No dejen de leerla.

[Stephanie Heenan-orr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining but the ending didn't live up to the rest of the book.