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The Three Musketeers
Elisa Traum, a former Argentinian currently residing in Israel, returns to Buenos Aires after twenty years of absence to mourn two friends- two fellow Jews who together with him once comprised " the three musketeers". These young men signed their own death sentences when they joined the Montoneros, the left-wing Peronist guerilla group, back in the bad days of the Dirty War in the 1970's and 80s.
Javier Mosan is an unmotivated Jewish journalist who writes for a popular daily newspaper in Argentina. His main hobbies are indulging in sexual fantasies and dodging writing assignments. When Mosan is sent to interview Traum, he believes it will be another routine job. Yet upon arriving at the airport, Mosan is is attacked, while Traum is kidnapped, mugged and then deposited on the side of the road like so much garbage. There is no doubt that the past has returned to take revenge.
But what past is it? The revolutionary or the romantic? And how is Israeli Intellegence involved? The story takes us from the bars of Buenos Aries to the beaches of Mar Del Plata, through a forgotten childhood and an era of dictatorship, between memories and reality until everything converges in an exciting thrilling end.
Translated from Spanish by Sharon Wood.
Javier Mosan is an unmotivated Jewish journalist who writes for a popular daily newspaper in Argentina. His main hobbies are indulging in sexual fantasies and dodging writing assignments. When Mosan is sent to interview Traum, he believes it will be another routine job. Yet upon arriving at the airport, Mosan is is attacked, while Traum is kidnapped, mugged and then deposited on the side of the road like so much garbage. There is no doubt that the past has returned to take revenge.
But what past is it? The revolutionary or the romantic? And how is Israeli Intellegence involved? The story takes us from the bars of Buenos Aries to the beaches of Mar Del Plata, through a forgotten childhood and an era of dictatorship, between memories and reality until everything converges in an exciting thrilling end.
Translated from Spanish by Sharon Wood.
211 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2001
About the author
Marcelo Birmajer
82 books41 followersMarcelo Birmajer was born the 29th of November of 1966 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His pearents were jews that emigrated to this country from Europe. At the age of twenty years old he started working as a writer for "Fierro" magazine (argentinian comic magazine). After that he also worked for several newspapers as a writter and he also wrote some movie scripts.
Marcelo's first contact whit book writing was caused by Pablo De Santis, a fellow writter he met in Fierro magazine. He was organizing some book collection, and he asked Marcelo to write some short novels. That's when he wrote "Un crimen secundario", "Un veneno saludable" and "Derrotado por un muerto"
His works go from comic book stories to short tales, novels and essays. He's the co-author of the movie script "El abrazo partido" (Daniel Burman, 2001), winner of a variety of prizes. He also took part in the creating of "Sol de Noche" script.
He has won the Konex 2004 award as one of the five best writers of the decade (1994-2003) in the young adult field. In 2011 he won this award again, as one of the five best movie script writters of the decade (2001-2011).
He lives in Buenos Aires city, with his wife Debora and his three kids.
Marcelo's first contact whit book writing was caused by Pablo De Santis, a fellow writter he met in Fierro magazine. He was organizing some book collection, and he asked Marcelo to write some short novels. That's when he wrote "Un crimen secundario", "Un veneno saludable" and "Derrotado por un muerto"
His works go from comic book stories to short tales, novels and essays. He's the co-author of the movie script "El abrazo partido" (Daniel Burman, 2001), winner of a variety of prizes. He also took part in the creating of "Sol de Noche" script.
He has won the Konex 2004 award as one of the five best writers of the decade (1994-2003) in the young adult field. In 2011 he won this award again, as one of the five best movie script writters of the decade (2001-2011).
He lives in Buenos Aires city, with his wife Debora and his three kids.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 5, 2024
Ik geloof dat hier echt wel een interessant verhaal in zit, maar het was te diep verborgen onder de vele lichaamsbeschrijvingen van alle vrouwelijke personages. Ik weet nu precies hoe de kont en borsten van Esther, Christina, Gladis etc. eruitzien. Ik heb geen idee wat ze denken, wat ze voelen, wat hen drijft, maar goed, dat zal vast niet belangrijk zijn.
December 25, 2018
Roman over een bijzondere vriendschap tijdens het Videla- Regime
Op zich dus best een leuk boek ( zeker ik als Argentinië liefhebber) hoewel niet te overtuigend. Van tijd tot tijd verwarrend verhaal, maar met leuke humor.
Op zich dus best een leuk boek ( zeker ik als Argentinië liefhebber) hoewel niet te overtuigend. Van tijd tot tijd verwarrend verhaal, maar met leuke humor.
April 29, 2020
Una muy linda historia acerca del judaísmo argentino, montoneros, la Argentina post 83 y el sexo.
April 2, 2025
Es como un conjunto de frases sueltas que quieren sonar bien. La historia ni por casualidad justifica la “tensión” que quiere generar y no genera.
May 12, 2012
La amistad entre tres jóvenes judíos conocidos como "Los tres mosqueteiros" (con "i") termina en drama cuando dos de ellos se acercan ideológicamente a la organización armada "Montoneros" y mueren asesinados a principios de la década de los 70. El tercer "mosqueteiro" regresa a la Argentina luego de 30 años de autoexilio en Israel buscando...¿Qué busca exactamente? Es una de las primeras preguntas que se hace Javier Mossen, el apático y desvalido periodista que relatará esta historia y acompañará al protagonista en su duro reencuentro con el pasado.
Marcelo Birmajer consigue hacer despertar sentimientos dispares por sus criaturas (Javier Mossen puede ser tierno, sensible, vulnerable o decididamente irritante) y exponer con un sentido del humor muy particular, algunas virtudes, muchos defectos y todas las heridas abiertas de la difícil historia de los argentinos y del pueblo judío.
Marcelo Birmajer consigue hacer despertar sentimientos dispares por sus criaturas (Javier Mossen puede ser tierno, sensible, vulnerable o decididamente irritante) y exponer con un sentido del humor muy particular, algunas virtudes, muchos defectos y todas las heridas abiertas de la difícil historia de los argentinos y del pueblo judío.
August 18, 2011
This was an interesting read; though not too compelling. From time to time confusing narrative but with nice humour. I must say I wasn't too familiar with the political background of the story and I'm sure I'd find this read more interesting if that wasn't the case.
November 30, 2010
The writing wasn't clear, which made it difficult to follow the storyline. Also the end was a letdown.
October 30, 2012
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/29/mov...
Simple story and enjoyable reading experience-overarching themes prevail..
Simple story and enjoyable reading experience-overarching themes prevail..
October 20, 2009
Badly written or badly translate? A little of both I think.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews