The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts by Louis de Bernières
"The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts" is a novel by Louis de Bernières that blends realism and fantasy to explore themes of oppression and liberation in Latin America. The story centers on Don Emmanuel, a powerful landowner, who finds himself at odds with the ambitious Doña Constanza, whose actions threaten both his crops and the livelihood of local campesinos. As the peasants organize against her plans, the government responds with brutal force, represented by the sadistic Comandante Rodrigo Figueras, creating an environment ripe for rebellion.
Against this backdrop, Aurelio, an antigovernment guerrilla leader sheltered by Indigenous people in the mountains, emerges as a pivotal figure rallying various oppressed groups. The narrative takes a magical turn with the appearance of giant, docile cats that inspire hope and joy among the downtrodden, symbolizing a transformative force in the struggle for liberation. As the characters confront their realities, including the resurgence of historical figures, they work towards the creation of a new society in Cochadebajo de Los Gatos, where diverse communities can coexist peacefully. This unique blend of magical realism and political commentary invites readers to reflect on the power of imagination in overcoming tyranny.
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The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts
First published: 1990
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Fantasy—Magical Realism
Time of work: The 1980’s
Locale: An imaginary country in Latin America
The Plot
The War of Don Emmanuel’s Nether Parts chronicles the liberation of a people from a cruel tyranny. The first novel published by Louis de Bernieres, it is one of several of his novels to chronicle Latin American life in a fantastic vein. Although it begins realistically, de Bernieres quickly establishes that fantasy and imagination are necessary in order to transform the lives of the characters.
Don Emmanuel is a large landowner who, though very powerful, is not a part of the country’s governing party and is accustomed to going his own way. When another landowner, Doña Constanza, tries to divert the course of a nearby river in a way that will cause Don Emmanuel’s crops to be ruined, he protests and tries to avert the action. The local campesinos, or peasants, are even more affected by Doña Constanza’s plans and begin to organize in order to undermine and forestall the diversion of the river. The government, which stays in power by arousing paranoia about the threat of communist subversion, becomes alarmed. The army, seeing the insurgency as much as an excuse for brutality as a genuine threat, sends a corps of soldiers under Comandante Rodrigo Figueras, a cruel, illiterate, and sadistic man, to quell the insurgency.
Not only the peasants but also the Indians in the mountains are oppressed by the government. Aurelio, an antigovernment guerrilla, has taken refuge with the Indians and has come to understand their lifestyle and spirituality. As the rebellion against the government gathers steam, Aurelio becomes its leader. A pivotal point in the development of the insurgency is reached when General Fuerte, a prominent commanding officer in the government army, is abducted by the guerrillas. What he witnesses during his captivity compels him to reexamine his allegiance and consider the guerrillas’ moral claims. The guerrillas have able leadership, as exemplified by Professor Luis, a young intellectual, and Remedios, a gifted organizer. As the book proceeds, however, their struggle is seen as spiritual in nature as much as it is defined in more traditionally political terms.
Proof of this comes with the appearance of giant cats, with the size and ferocity of wildcats such as ocelots or pumas but with the docile temperament of domestic pets. These cats manifest themselves out of air or appear in the laps of pregnant women in place of human children. The tide is turned by the appearance of the cats, who inspire wonder and joy among the downtrodden. The sadistic Comandante Figueras is ruined professionally and reduced to conducting ineffective antidrug raids. Conversely, the relationship of Aurelio and his wife, Carmen, is sanctified and reanimated by the magical presence of the giant felines. Conventional ideas of time are reversed, as long-dead Spanish conquistadores arise from the dead. This signifies the collapse of existing ideas of reality that constrain the human spirit.
By the end of the book, all the positive protagonists in the book, representing a variety of ethnic, class, cultural, and religious backgrounds, have gathered in the new, utopian city of Cochadebajo de Los Gatos. Here, finally, they can begin constructing a sane, peaceful society in which all can flourish.