Description
The Guide for Blind Walkers
Book Summary
This classic of colonial literature is much more than a travelogue: it is a documented and credible guide that covers the itinerary from Montevideo to Lima, passing through Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Salta, Potosí, Chuquisaca, and Cuzco. Written with a humorous and picaresque tone, the work offers a concrete and exact vision of American life during the 18th century, detailing the atmosphere of the cities, the customs of their inhabitants, and the routine of rural life. An irreplaceable historical testimony that combines practical utility with entertainment.
What is it about?
The Guide for Blind Walkers is an extensive itinerary that narrates a real journey through the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata and Peru at the end of the 18th century. The work is presented as a picturesque and useful guide for travelers, seasoned with humorous anecdotes that seek to entertain the reader. Throughout its pages, the author describes with precision the atmosphere of the cities, the habits and customs of their inhabitants, as well as the routine of rural life. Although its authorship has been debated (attributed to Don Calixto Bustamante Carlos, alias Concolorcorvo, or to Alonso Carrió de la Vandera), the text remains a truthful and detailed testimony of colonial life, where the picaresque tone does not cloud the precise vision of the era.
Main themes
- Travel and exploration of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata and Peru in the 18th century
- Daily life, habits, and customs of the American colonies
- Historical chronicle and documentary testimony of the colonial period
- Picaresque literature applied to travel narrative
- Geography and description of commercial routes and colonial roads
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers interested in the colonial history of Latin America, classic travel literature, and 18th-century chronicles. It is also ideal for students and researchers of history, Hispanic American literature, and social sciences looking for a direct and enjoyable testimony of life in the New World. Likewise, it will be attractive to those who enjoy narratives with a picaresque tone and observations of local customs.
What this book contributes
- A first-hand historical testimony on American colonial life at the end of the 18th century
- A detailed guide to routes, cities, and customs of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata and Peru
- An enjoyable read that combines useful information with the humor and wit characteristic of picaresque literature
- A unique perspective on the geography, society, and economy of the time
Technical specifications
- Author: Carrió de la Vandera, Alonso
- Publisher: Linkgua Ediciones
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: CLASSIC TEXTS
- Collection: NARRATIVE
- Binding: Paperback
- Edition date: May 2025
- Number of pages: 270
- Weight: 100 g
Editorial assessment
This Linkgua edition recovers an essential classic for understanding colonial America. Its value lies in the combination of documentary rigor and narrative enjoyment, offering the reader a direct window into the routes, cities, and customs of the 18th century. The work maintains its relevance as a historical source and as an example of travel literature with a marked picaresque tone, proving of interest to both specialists and curious readers who wish to explore life in the New World from an authentic and entertaining perspective.