The Mangy Parrot: The Life and Times of Periquillo Sarniento, Written by Himself for His Children

by ; ; ;
Format: Hardcover
Pub. Date: 2004-03-01
Publisher(s): Hackett Pub Co Inc
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Summary

Repeatedly imprisoned for his printed attacks on the Spanish administration, Mexican journalist and publisher José Joaquin Fernández de Lizardi attempted, in 1816, to make an end-run around government censors by disguising his invective as serial fiction. Lizardi's experiment in subterfuge quickly failed: Spanish officials shut down publication of the novel -- the first to be published in Latin America -- after the third installment, and within four years Lizardi was back in jail. The whole of The Mangy Parrot (El Periquillo Sarniento) went unpublished until after Lizardi's death -- and a decade after Mexico had won its independence from Spain. Though never before published in its entirety in English, The Mangy Parrot has become a Mexican classic beloved by generations of Latin American readers. Now, in vibrant American idiom, translator David Frye captures the exuberance of Lizardi's tale-telling as the author follows his narrator and alter ego, Periquillo Sarniento, through a series of misadventures that exposes the ignorance and corruption plaguing Mexican society on the eve of the wars for independence. Raw descriptions of colonial street life, candid portraits of race and ethnicity, and barely camouflaged attacks on colonial authority fill this comic masterpiece of world literature -- the Don Quixote of Latin America.

Table of Contents

Introduction xi
Translator's Note xxxi
Prologue, dedication, and foreword to the readers 3(4)
Prologue by the Mangy Parrot 7(2)
General Note for the Readers 9(73)
1. Periquillo begins by writing why he has left these notebooks to his children; he describes his parents, his country, his birth, and other childhood incidents
11(7)
2. In which Periquillo writes of his entrance into school, the progress he made there, and other matters that will be learned by those who read these words, hear them read, or ask about them
18(8)
3. In which Periquillo describes his third school, and how his parents argued over finding him a trade
26(8)
4. In which Periquillo tells us of the outcome of the conversation between his parents, and its result, which was that they set him to study, and of the progress he made
34(8)
5. Periquillo writes of his matriculation into the school of arts; what he learned; his general exams, his degree, and other curious events that will be learned by those who wish to know
42(6)
6. In which our bachelor reports what happened on the hacienda, which is curious and entertaining to hear
48(8)
7. Our author continues the story of what happened to him on the hacienda
56(9)
8. In which Periquillo writes of some adventures that happened to him on the hacienda, and his return home
65(6)
9. Periquillo goes home and has a long conversation with his father about matters both curious and interesting
71(11)
10. Periquillo's father concludes his lesson; Periquillo decides to study theology; he abandons it; his father wants him to learn a trade; he resists; and other matters 82(10)
11. Periquillo dons the friar's habit and regrets it on the same day; with other relevant and entertaining stories 92(11)
12. On advice, good and bad; the death of Periquillo's father; and his leaving the monastery 103(6)
Prologue in the guise of a story 109(4)
13. Periquillo speaks of getting out of mourning, and expounds upon funerals, condolences, burials, mourning clothes, and so on 113(11)
14. Periquillo criticizes dances, and makes a long and useful digression, speaking of the bad educations that many parents give their sons, and the bad sons who grieve their parents 124(11)
15. Periquillo writes of his mother's death, and other matters that are not altogether disagreeable 135(13)
16. Alone, poor, and abandoned by his relatives, Periquillo meets Juan Largo, who persuades him to embark on a scoundrel's career, specializing in being a pest of the gaming tables 148(12)
17. Periquillo continues the tale of his hard work and rich rewards as a gambler; he seriously criticizes gambling, and suffers a dangerous adventure that he scarcely lives to recount 160(11)
18. Periquillo revives and finds himself in the hospital; he criticizes hospital abuses; Januario visits him; he convalesces and leaves; he recounts the jobs he held; his teacher induces him to become a thief; he resists, and they argue about robbery 171(12)
19. In which our author recounts his time in prison, his luck in finding a friend there, and the latter's life story 183(12)
20. Periquillo recounts what happened with his notary, and Don Antonio continues telling him his life story 195(11)
21. Periquillo recounts the obnoxious joke that the prisoners played on him in jail, and Don Antonio concludes his life story 206(11)
22. Don Antonio is released from jail; Periquillo gives himself over to the friendship of his roguish companions; and what happened between him and El Aguilucho 217(10)
23. In which Periquillo recounts how he was robbed in jail; how Don Antonio bid him farewell; the troubles he suffered; and other things that perhaps will not displease the readers 227(13)
24. In which Periquillo describes how he got out of jail, criticizes bad notaries, and finally, relates the reason why and the shameful way in which he left the house of Chanfaina 240(13)
25. In which Periquillo recounts the reception that a barber gave him; the reason why he left his house; about finding a job in an apothecary shop and leaving it; and other curious adventures 253(16)
26. In which Periquillo relates how he found a job with Dr. Purgante, what he learned at his side, how he robbed him and ran away, and his adventures in Tula, where he pretended to be a physician 269(16)
27. Periquillo tells the story of several things that happened to him in Tula, and what he was forced to suffer at the hand of the priest 285(10)
28. In which our Perico tells us about the conclusion to the priest's sermon, the unfortunate hand he had in a plague, and the wicked way he left town, touching, in the course of the chapter, on various curious matters 295(9)
29. Which recounts the frightful adventure of the potter and the story of the man in rags 304(14)
30. In which Periquillo tells about the jackpot he won; the end of Chanfaina the notary; how he fell back in with Luisa; and other details that will satisfy the curiosity of the readers 318(13)
31. In which we learn of how Periquillo threw Luisa out of his house, and his marriage to young Mariana 331(14)
32. In which Periquillo describes Luisa's fate, a bloody adventure he had, and other delightful and entertaining events 345(5)
33. In which we learn how Periquillo became a sexton; his adventure with a corpse; his entrance into the brotherhood of beggars; and other things as true as they are interesting 350(14)
34. In which Periquillo relates how he got along with the subdelegado; the latter's character and wicked behavior, and that of the parish priest; the settlement that the subdelegado was forced to accept; how Perico discharged his duties as interim magistrate; and finally, the honorable way in which they kicked him out of town 364(11)
35. Wherein Periquillo describes his good fortune in being the colonel's adjutant; the character of the colonel; their embarkation for Manila; and other entertaining details 375(11)
36. In which Periquillo recounts the egotist's disastrous adventure and his untimely end as a result of the ship's running aground; the advice that the colonel gave him on this occasion; and his happy arrival in Manila 386(11)
What follows is the manuscript that the author left unpublished for the reasons expressed below 397(1)
37. Periquillo describes his good behavior in Manila, the duel between an Englishman and a Black, and a little argument that is not to be missed 398(9)
38. Our author continues describing his good conduct and fortune in Manila; he tells about his discharge, the death of the colonel, the funeral, and other entertaining trifles 407(5)
39. In which our author describes how he set sail for Acapulco; his shipwreck; the warm welcome he was given in the island where he landed; and other curious matters 412(11)
40. In which our Perico tells how he pretended to be a count on the island; how well it went for him; what he saw there; and the conversations he had with the foreigners at dinner, which are not entirely to be sniffed at 423(10)
41. In which Periquillo describes how he witnessed some executions in that city; he tells who the prisoners were; and he relates a curious conversation about penal codes that took place between the Chinese and the Spaniard 433(8)
42. In which Perico describes how he earned the Chinese's trust; how he came with him to Mexico; and the happy days he spent at his side, spending money grandly and passing as a count 441(9)
43. In which Perico tells of the wicked way he left the house of the Chinese, and other pretty little details; but you will have to read them to know them 450(10)
44. In which our Perico tells of how he tried to hang himself; the reason why he did not do it; the ungratefulness he experienced from a friend; the scare he suffered at a wake; his escape from this capital, and other little things 460(9)
45. In which Periquillo describes his encounter with a gang of thieves, who they were, what they gave him, and his adventures in their company 469(10)
46. In which our author tells the adventures he had in the gang of thieves; the sad spectacle presented by the cadaver of a hanged man; and the beginnings of his conversion 479(9)
47. In which Periquillo describes how he entered the retreat in La Profesa; his encounter with Roque; who his confessor was; and the favors he owed him, not the least of which was finding him a job in a shop 488(6)
48. In which Periquillo describes his conduct in San Agustin de las Cuevas, the adventure of his friend Anselmo, and other episodes that are not unpleasant in the least 494(8)
49. In which Perico tells the adventure of the misanthrope, his life story, and the discovery of the whereabouts of the man in rags, which is not to be scorned 502(10)
50. In which Periquillo tells of his second marriage, and other things of interest for the full understanding of this true history 512(10)
51. In which Periquillo recounts his master's death, the departure of the Chinese, and his last illness; and the editor continues telling the rest of his story, up to the death of our hero 522(13)
52. In which "the Thinker" recounts the burial of Perico, and other matters that lead the reader by the hand to the end of this very truthful history 535

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