Description
Thirty-six years later
Book Summary
A personal and journalistic journey that intertwines a passion for soccer with a social chronicle of contemporary Peru. Toño Angulo uses the Peruvian national team's return to a World Cup, after a 36-year absence, as an excuse to reflect on his country's identity, contradictions, and longings. Between historical defeats, miraculous goals, and homespun superstitions, the author constructs an emotional narrative that connects sports with daily life, offering a lucid and tender look at a nation that dreams of transformation.
What is it about?
The book begins with a concrete event: the qualification of the Peruvian national soccer team for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, an event that broke a 36-year drought. From there, journalist Toño Angulo unfolds an intimate, choral chronicle where soccer serves as the common thread to explore the reality of Peru. The author reviews his own likes and dislikes as a fan, analyzes key moments in the country's sporting history, and reflects on how soccer becomes a mirror of collective frustrations and hopes. With an accessible and sharp style, the text combines the excitement of the fan with the critical eye of the chronicler, addressing topics such as national identity, memory, popular superstition, and the possibility of social change that transcends the playing field.
Main Themes
- The relationship between soccer and national identity in Peru.
- A chronicle of the Peruvian national team's return to a World Cup after 36 years.
- Reflection on collective memory and historical defeats.
- Analysis of the superstitions and rituals of the Peruvian fan.
- Soccer as a metaphor for the country's social and political transformation.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at soccer fans looking for a read that goes beyond the game's results, as well as those interested in social chronicles and journalistic essays. It will also appeal to Peruvian readers or those interested in Latin American culture who want to understand the complexities of contemporary Peru through a personal and passionate lens. It is ideal for those who enjoy texts that combine memory, emotion, and critical analysis.
What this book offers
- A unique perspective that unites soccer passion with reflection on Peruvian identity.
- An emotional journey through the recent history of soccer in Peru, told from the author's personal experience.
- Key insights into understanding the symbolism of sports as a reflection of social and political changes.
- An enjoyable and profound read that invites you to think about the country beyond the soccer field.
Technical Details
- Author: Angulo Daneri, Toño
- Publisher: LIBROS DEL KO, SLL
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: LITERARY ESSAYS, REPORTAGE AND COLLECTIONS OF JOURNALISTIC ARTICLES, SOCCER, AMERICAN FOOTBALL
- Collection: HOOLIGANS ILUSTRADOS
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication Date: June 2018
- Number of pages: 180
- Weight: 146 g
Editorial Assessment
A work that transcends the sports genre to become an essay on Peruvian identity. Toño Angulo manages to balance the nostalgia of a fan with the lucidity of a journalist, offering a text that connects with the reader on an emotional and intellectual level. His personal approach and accessible style make this book a recommended read both for those who lived through the 36-year wait and for those interested in understanding how soccer can be a vehicle to talk about a country and its people.