Palomita Blanca
Encyclopedia
Palomita Blanca is a 1971 novel
written by Enrique Lafourcade
. More than fifty editions (including "reprintings") have been published, making the novel the most widely sold novel in the history of Chilean literature, with more than a million copies sold. It was written at a conflictive time in Chile's history (events leading into the election of Salvador Allende
as President) and it was a sentimental time in world popular culture (events such as rock concerts and drug use). Most critics saw the novel as a knee-jerk response to Erich Segal's Love Story
. A New York Times No. 1 bestseller, Segal's book became the top selling work of fiction for all of 1970 in the United States
, and was translated into more than 20 languages worldwide. The motion picture of the same name
was the number one box office
attraction of 1971. Thus most media comments in Santiago called Lafourcade's novel "the Chilean love story." Lafourcade's marriage with Marta Blanco had ended three years earlier, and he reportedly wrote the novel inspired by his later pareja, about whom he remained quite secretive. A film based on the novel was made in 1973
by Raúl Ruiz, which was at one time believed lost forever, but a print was later found in the vaults of ChileFilms.
Music for the film was written and performed by Los Jaivas
.
A translation to Portuguese was published in Brazil, but a translation to English by Joel Hancock of the University of Utah has remained unpublished.
The story is of a working class naive teenage girl (María = Palomita) who meets a posh boy (Juan Carlos) in the Piedra Roja
music festival. The love story goes wrong because of the class differences between the characters, and the naiveté of the girl who believes in the Cinderella
story of a poor girl rescued by a rich and handsome prince. Juan Carlos is involved in extreme right-wing terrorism, and needs to leave the country in a hurry, leaving Palomita behind. The political tension that would later culminate in the September 11, 1973 Chilean revolution is brilliantly observed and described by writer Lafourcade. The novel is posted in Spanish on Lafourcade's webpage, using links of each chapter:
http://www.enriquelafourcade.cl/palomita.htm
2nd: July, 1971: 3,000 copies.
3rd: August, 1971: 5,000 copies.
4th: September, 1971: 5,000
5th: October, 1971: 5,000
6th: October, 1971: 8,000
7th: November, 1971: 10,000
8th: December, 1971: 5,000
9th: January, 1972: 5,000
10th: March, 1972: 5,000
11th: May, 1972: 10,000
12th: September 1972: 10,000
13th: April, 1973: 10,000
In 1982: The publication changed to Lafourcade's own in-house publisher:
—Ediciones de Lafourcade, Santiago de Chile.
1984: —First special edition: Colección "Los Grandes de la Literatura Chilena", Editorial Zig-Zag.
—17th edition, Editorial Zig-Zag.
1986: —18th edition, Editorial Zig-Zag.
1987: —19th edition, Editorial Zig-Zag.
1992: —24th edition, Editorial Zig-Zag.
1994: —27th edition, Editorial Zig-Zag.
—28th edition, Colección "Top Sellers", Editorial Zig-Zag.
—29th edition, Colección "Viento Joven" / Youthful breeze, Editorial Zig-Zag.
—Special Edition on the occasion of the showing the film made docades earlier by Raúl Ruiz: Ediciones del Paraíso Perdido.
1995: —30th edition, Editorial Zig-Zag.
1996: —31st edition, Editorial Zig-Zag.
—32nd edition, Editorial Zig-Zag.
1997: —Special Edition: Colectión "Los mejores Libros de la Literatura Chilena", Ercilla, Santiago de Chile.
1999: —33rd edition, Editorial Zig-Zag.
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
written by Enrique Lafourcade
Enrique Lafourcade
Enrique Lafourcade Valdenegro is a Chilean writer, critic and journalist who was born in Santiago, Chile, on October 14, 1927.-Brief Biography:...
. More than fifty editions (including "reprintings") have been published, making the novel the most widely sold novel in the history of Chilean literature, with more than a million copies sold. It was written at a conflictive time in Chile's history (events leading into the election of Salvador Allende
Chilean presidential election, 1970
A presidential election was held in Chile on 4 September 1970. A narrow plurality was secured by Salvador Allende, the candidate of the Popular Unity coalition of leftist parties...
as President) and it was a sentimental time in world popular culture (events such as rock concerts and drug use). Most critics saw the novel as a knee-jerk response to Erich Segal's Love Story
Love Story (novel)
Love Story is a 1970 romance novel by American writer Erich Segal. The book's origins were in that of a screenplay Segal wrote and was subsequently approved for production by Paramount Pictures. Paramount requested that Segal adapt the story into novel form as a preview of sorts for the film. The...
. A New York Times No. 1 bestseller, Segal's book became the top selling work of fiction for all of 1970 in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and was translated into more than 20 languages worldwide. The motion picture of the same name
Love Story (1970 film)
Love Story is a 1970 romantic drama film written by Erich Segal and based on his novel Love Story. It was directed by Arthur Hiller. The film, well known as a tragedy, is considered one of the most romantic of all time by the American Film Institute , and was followed by a sequel, Oliver's Story...
was the number one box office
Box office
A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall or window, or at a wicket....
attraction of 1971. Thus most media comments in Santiago called Lafourcade's novel "the Chilean love story." Lafourcade's marriage with Marta Blanco had ended three years earlier, and he reportedly wrote the novel inspired by his later pareja, about whom he remained quite secretive. A film based on the novel was made in 1973
Little White Dove
Little White Dove is a 1973 Chilean comedy film directed by Raúl Ruiz. It is based on the novel by Enrique Lafourcade. Due to the censorship of the military dictatorship, the film was not screened until 1990, after Ruiz had re-edited it.-Cast:...
by Raúl Ruiz, which was at one time believed lost forever, but a print was later found in the vaults of ChileFilms.
Music for the film was written and performed by Los Jaivas
Los Jaivas
Los Jaivas are a Chilean musical group who perform in folk, rock, and progressive rock styles.-History:Los Jaivas appeared in Chilean music in 1963 as a progressive-rock-andino group, mixing rock with South American ancestral music...
.
A translation to Portuguese was published in Brazil, but a translation to English by Joel Hancock of the University of Utah has remained unpublished.
The story is of a working class naive teenage girl (María = Palomita) who meets a posh boy (Juan Carlos) in the Piedra Roja
Piedra roja
Piedra Roja was a music festival.Following the success of Woodstock, a similar music festival was held in Chile between the 10 and 12 of October 1970 in the oriental area of Santiago. Among others, the following bands performed in the festival: Aguaturbia, Los Blops, Lágrima Seca and Los Jaivas...
music festival. The love story goes wrong because of the class differences between the characters, and the naiveté of the girl who believes in the Cinderella
Cinderella
"Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper" is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune...
story of a poor girl rescued by a rich and handsome prince. Juan Carlos is involved in extreme right-wing terrorism, and needs to leave the country in a hurry, leaving Palomita behind. The political tension that would later culminate in the September 11, 1973 Chilean revolution is brilliantly observed and described by writer Lafourcade. The novel is posted in Spanish on Lafourcade's webpage, using links of each chapter:
http://www.enriquelafourcade.cl/palomita.htm
Editions
First: June, 1971, published by Zig-Zag (Santiago de Chile): 5,000 copies.2nd: July, 1971: 3,000 copies.
3rd: August, 1971: 5,000 copies.
4th: September, 1971: 5,000
5th: October, 1971: 5,000
6th: October, 1971: 8,000
7th: November, 1971: 10,000
8th: December, 1971: 5,000
9th: January, 1972: 5,000
10th: March, 1972: 5,000
11th: May, 1972: 10,000
12th: September 1972: 10,000
13th: April, 1973: 10,000
In 1982: The publication changed to Lafourcade's own in-house publisher:
—Ediciones de Lafourcade, Santiago de Chile.
1984: —First special edition: Colección "Los Grandes de la Literatura Chilena", Editorial Zig-Zag.
—17th edition, Editorial Zig-Zag.
1986: —18th edition, Editorial Zig-Zag.
1987: —19th edition, Editorial Zig-Zag.
1992: —24th edition, Editorial Zig-Zag.
1994: —27th edition, Editorial Zig-Zag.
—28th edition, Colección "Top Sellers", Editorial Zig-Zag.
—29th edition, Colección "Viento Joven" / Youthful breeze, Editorial Zig-Zag.
—Special Edition on the occasion of the showing the film made docades earlier by Raúl Ruiz: Ediciones del Paraíso Perdido.
1995: —30th edition, Editorial Zig-Zag.
1996: —31st edition, Editorial Zig-Zag.
—32nd edition, Editorial Zig-Zag.
1997: —Special Edition: Colectión "Los mejores Libros de la Literatura Chilena", Ercilla, Santiago de Chile.
1999: —33rd edition, Editorial Zig-Zag.