Title: Argentina: The Beautiful Land: A Novel
Author: Donald L. Lawrence
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 978-1664163676
Pages: 456
Genre: Historical Fiction
Reviewed by: Lily Amanda
Pacific Book Review
Argentina: The Beautiful Land: A Novel is a pulsating and captivating tome written by Donald L. Lawrence. Set in the 80s, the story follows the cattle ranching family of DeCavaliere, in Argentina. This was a period in which many German expatriates had immigrated to the country after the Allies defeated Germany at the end of the Second World War, consequently following the fall of the Third Reich. Many had started families and were keen on controlling the industrial sector of the economy.
As the DeCavaliere family grows to be more successful in Argentine society, they encounter challenges as well. Criminal gangs demanding protection money, day-to-day management of the large Pedrosa Ranch, and rivalry from other ranch owners were some of the problems they faced. Author Lawrence gives readers a glimpse of the lives of the fifth, sixth, and seventh generations of this wealthy family while also giving a brief history of the preceding generations as well.
This remarkable book discusses the values of family, love, culture, and loyalty to one’s country and the sacrifices that come with it. The writer uses skillful syntax to perfectly execute his work. The setting of the story is well presented providing a rich background to the plot and its characters. This easily gives readers a sense of place. It was almost like I was in Argentina witnessing the drama unfolding. The story has elements of the culture and traditions of the Argentines giving the book a drizzle of oriental themes. The characters, though numerous, are memorable and linger on the reader’s mind long after the reading is done. The text has a fairly good ending and leaves no cliffhangers. Although the book is long and weighty, the author luckily gives eye-catching chapters that serve as hints on what to expect in the chapters.
What I love most about Argentina: The Beautiful Land: A Novel is the seamless style of writing which adds another layer of charm to the book as it creates cohesiveness. In my opinion, Author Lawrence has penned a beautiful tale, which even as a work of fiction, has a few life lessons as well.
Argentina: The Beautiful Land: A Novel by Donald L. Lawrence is a hit for fans of historical fiction. I can’t wait to lay my hands on the author’s prior novel, The Invasion Spy. Having experienced his talent in writing, am certain I will be in for another action- packed adventure!
