This amazing book may be the unsung masterpiece of the 20th century. First published in English while the Second World War was raging, and coloured by the author's radical politics, it sort of escaped notice, unlike some of his other works, most notably Treasure of the Sierra Madre, which was a great success as a film in the author's lifetime. Yet it is this parable of the effect of western civilisation on non-western culture that has proved, for me at least, to be the most enduring of Traven's works. Going into its subject matter more deeply would spoil the potential for the powerful effect it can have on a reader, though even re-reading did not diminish the heart-wrenching of its central event for me. Its theology, as its politics, will be troubling for many people; it has resonated in me since I first read it in the 1960s and will go on resonating in me till I die. Underneath it is as political as Traven's other so-called "Jungle novels", but it is often not included along with them as it does not have the overt revolutionary theme that characterises the others, like Rebellion of the Hanged and March to the Monteria. But it really belongs with them.Anyone not knowing of Traven will find more about him in my review of The Death Ship, or by searching under his name for books about this surprising man.
Todos vivimos sobre una misma línea, dispersados en tiempo y espacio distintos, pero al final bajo las mismas reglas ¿de dónde proviene lo inexplicable? Todo aquello mágico e irracional, B. Traven nos sitúa en una comunidad selvática mexicana, nos lleva de la mano a presenciar la manera en cómo se vive ahí, aquello que se valora, aquello que se tiene, aquello que se ama, aquello que se escapa, aquello que no se entiende, aquello mágico y aquello tan humano; pertenecer, andar y marcharse.Me es curioso el hecho de que puente en la selva forme parte de una colección para pequeños , ya que es algo trágica, pero bueno al final la vida es así.Everybody lives in the same line, disperses on different time and space, at the end by same rules. Where the unexplained things come from? Magic and irracionable stuff. B. Traven take us to a mexican jungle comunity to explore the way how life is there. Everything they have or not, things they love, appraise, or hate, and all the magic and human stuff; be part of, keep walking, and gone.
Do You like book The Bridge In The Jungle (2002)?
I read The Treasure of the Sierra Madre a few years ago and loved it immensely. As usual, I can't resist a smart social satire just like I can't resist a fish-shaped knick-knack. I also love John Houston's epic rendition of the novel, which you, dear friend, should definitely watch if you haven't already.While reading the book, I also learned about its mysterious author, whose identity is still under much speculation. Nobody knows his real name, his date of birth (and death), his country of origin, and, of course, all the rest. When Houston started filming The Treasure, he thought he could finally meet the elusive writer. However, he could only encounter B. Traven's representative, who never revealed Traven's identity and had the wonderful taste to disappear after the film was completed. He eventually reappeared in Mexico City, but still kept his mouth shut on the Traven affair. (Why, oh why, couldn't I live at the time of the film noir?)The Bridge in the Jungle is a short novel about a mother losing her child in the Mexican jungle. I like it so far, but I'll keep you posted.
—Giuliana
Un explorador norteamericano se interna en la selva mexicana que abarca los estados del sur del país. Lo que descubre es un a grupo de comunidades que viven en suma pobreza, pero también con una vida espiritual donde el sincretismo entre la religión nativa y la católica sirven de estructura para comprender los actos y sucesos que los rodean. Con una prosa dotada de imágenes, sensaciones, preguntas, diálogos directos e indirectos, vacilaciones de los personajes y el detalle moroso de ciertas descripciones, Traven nos lleva a una noche junto a un puente en el que primero desaparece un niño. ¿Habrá muerto? ¿Se habrá ido? ¿Lo raptaron? Es una gran novela en el que la selva se muestra con toda su acritud, y los hombres, los indígenas, se desenvuelven con todo su amor, dicho como su espiritualidad para poder sobrellevar el peso de la vida en esas latitudes.
—Antonio Ramos revillas
