What was the Latin American Boom? It was a literary earthquake in the 1960s that redefined the global literary landscape. Driven by a generation of politically engaged and aesthetically revolutionary authors, the Boom gave a continent its voice through the innovative and now-iconic genre of Magic Realism.
This event explores the enduring legacy of this movement, celebrating literary giants like Clarice Lispector, Gabriel García Márquez, Isabel Allende, Julio Cortázar, Mario Vargas Llosa, and our own distinguished alumnus, Carlos Fuentes.
Through a dynamic series of student-led presentations, we will journey through the masterworks of the era, examining their historical context and formal innovations. The evening will bridge this celebrated heritage with the present, culminating in the launch of a new work of historical fiction, A Day at the United Nations: A Constellation of Stories. Published by Codex Publishing, this collection of interconnected stories continues the Boom's tradition of telling grand histories through a constellation of human voices.
Join us for a vibrant exploration of literature and community, followed by a networking tertulia (20:00- 21:00).
SPEAKERS
A panel of graduate students from the Geneva Graduate Institute will present concise, 10-minute analyses of the following authors and works:
- Argentina: Julio Cortázar – Rayuela
- Brazil: Clarice Lispector & Carolina Maria de Jesus
- Presenter: Clarissa Hofer Périssé
- Chile: Isabel Allende – La Casa de los Espíritus
- Colombia: Gabriel García Márquez – Cien Años de Soledad
- Mexico: Carlos Fuentes – La Región Más Transparente
- Presenter: Gerardo Dasyel Mendoza Capetillo
- Peru: Mario Vargas Llosa – La Ciudad y los Perros
- Presenter: Christian Fernández Dávila
BOOK LAUNCH PRESENTATION
In a special presentation marking the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, writer and publisher Gerardo Dasyel Mendoza Capetilo will launch his debut work, A Day at the United Nations: A Constellation of Stories (2025). The culmination of a decade of research, this collection of historical fiction explores the untold human stories at the heart of international cooperation.
Inspired by the narrative tradition of Carlos Fuentes, the book continues the Latin American Boom & legacy of telling grand histories through a constellation of individual voices. Recognised as a Carlos Fuentes Scholar, Mendoza founded Codex Publishing to build bridges between literature and public purpose.
This event is co-hosted by the Latin American Network Initiative (LANI), the Language Initiative, and Codex Publishing, in partnership with the Geneva Graduate Institute.