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{"id":6582736453691,"title":"The Guardian of Amsterdam Street","handle":"the-guardian-of-amsterdam-street","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eRoma\u003c\/i\u003e meets \u003ci\u003eA Gentleman in Moscow\u003c\/i\u003e in this vivid portrait of the twentieth century, witnessed by one boy from his self-imposed refuge in Mexico City.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGalo has not left his home on Amsterdam Street, not since the day in 1938 when a shocking act of violence split his family apart. His hermitage is made easier by the peculiar design of the street. It is shaped like an ellipse — if you walk it, you will find yourself returning to the same place again and again.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlaying host to Jewish refugees, Spanish exiles, and Latin American revolutionaries, his home becomes the school at which Galo learns about a world he never sees, and the ideals and terrors that shape history. He begins to realize that Amsterdam Street, the site of endless returns, may be the true centre of the world. Appointing himself the street’s guardian, Galo witnesses the decades pass, knowing that everyone who walks away must one day come back.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA novel of rare humanity and grace, \u003ci\u003eThe Guardian of Amsterdam Street\u003c\/i\u003e is a stunning portrait of a neighbourhood where the whole of the twentieth century comes alive and a moving inquiry into how we shape the world, and how it transforms us in turn.\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2021-05-13T13:09:25-04:00","created_at":"2021-05-13T13:09:25-04:00","vendor":"House of Anansi Press Inc","type":"","tags":["Anansi International","By (author) Schmucler Sergio","Literary Fiction","pub date: 2021-05-04","Translated by Sayer Jessie Mendez"],"price":1695,"price_min":1695,"price_max":1995,"available":true,"price_varies":true,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":39403428839483,"title":"epub","option1":"epub","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9781487008291","requires_shipping":false,"taxable":true,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"The Guardian of Amsterdam Street - epub","public_title":"epub","options":["epub"],"price":1695,"weight":0,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":null,"barcode":"9781487008291","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]},{"id":39413414789179,"title":"trade paperback","option1":"trade paperback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9781487008284","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":true,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"The Guardian of Amsterdam Street - trade paperback","public_title":"trade paperback","options":["trade paperback"],"price":1995,"weight":227,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9781487008284","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]},{"id":39413414854715,"title":"mobi","option1":"mobi","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9781487008307","requires_shipping":false,"taxable":true,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"The Guardian of Amsterdam Street - mobi","public_title":"mobi","options":["mobi"],"price":1695,"weight":0,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":null,"barcode":"9781487008307","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/houseofanansi.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/BNCImageAPI_87378fdb-5d63-4d1e-8063-20ca5f112acf.jpg?v=1723950329"],"featured_image":"\/\/houseofanansi.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/BNCImageAPI_87378fdb-5d63-4d1e-8063-20ca5f112acf.jpg?v=1723950329","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":24743104610363,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.667,"height":4950,"width":3300,"src":"\/\/houseofanansi.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/BNCImageAPI_87378fdb-5d63-4d1e-8063-20ca5f112acf.jpg?v=1723950329"},"aspect_ratio":0.667,"height":4950,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/houseofanansi.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/BNCImageAPI_87378fdb-5d63-4d1e-8063-20ca5f112acf.jpg?v=1723950329","width":3300}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eRoma\u003c\/i\u003e meets \u003ci\u003eA Gentleman in Moscow\u003c\/i\u003e in this vivid portrait of the twentieth century, witnessed by one boy from his self-imposed refuge in Mexico City.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGalo has not left his home on Amsterdam Street, not since the day in 1938 when a shocking act of violence split his family apart. His hermitage is made easier by the peculiar design of the street. It is shaped like an ellipse — if you walk it, you will find yourself returning to the same place again and again.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlaying host to Jewish refugees, Spanish exiles, and Latin American revolutionaries, his home becomes the school at which Galo learns about a world he never sees, and the ideals and terrors that shape history. He begins to realize that Amsterdam Street, the site of endless returns, may be the true centre of the world. Appointing himself the street’s guardian, Galo witnesses the decades pass, knowing that everyone who walks away must one day come back.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA novel of rare humanity and grace, \u003ci\u003eThe Guardian of Amsterdam Street\u003c\/i\u003e is a stunning portrait of a neighbourhood where the whole of the twentieth century comes alive and a moving inquiry into how we shape the world, and how it transforms us in turn.\u003c\/p\u003e"}
{"AlsoRecommendedISBN_0":"9781487002510","AlsoRecommendedISBN_1":"9781487006686","AlsoRecommendedISBN_2":"9781487007058","BASICMainSubject":"FIC014000","BASICMainSubjectLiteral":"FICTION\/Historical\/General","BiographicalNote":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSERGIO SCHMUCLER\u003c\/strong\u003e (1959–2019) was born in Córdoba, Argentina, in 1959 and went into exile in Mexico at the age of seventeen, where he studied social anthropology and screenwriting. His other novels include \u003cem\u003eLa cabeza de Mariano Rosas\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eDetrás del vidrio\u003c\/em\u003e. In 2001 he received the Ariel Award from the Mexican Academy of Film for the screenplay of \u003cem\u003eCrónica de un Desayuno\u003c\/em\u003e. Sergio Schmucler was also a tireless fighter for human rights.\u003c\/p\u003e","BISACSubjectLiteral_0":"FICTION \/ Historical \/ General","BISACSubjectLiteral_1":"FICTION \/ Literary","BISACSubjectLiteral_2":"FICTION \/ Hispanic \u0026amp; Latino","BISACSubject_0":"FIC014000","BISACSubject_1":"FIC019000","BISACSubject_2":"FIC056000","ContributorBio_0":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSERGIO SCHMUCLER\u003c\/strong\u003e (1959–2019) was born in Córdoba, Argentina, in 1959 and went into exile in Mexico at the age of seventeen, where he studied social anthropology and screenwriting. His other novels include \u003cem\u003eLa cabeza de Mariano Rosas\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eDetrás del vidrio\u003c\/em\u003e. In 2001 he received the Ariel Award from the Mexican Academy of Film for the screenplay of \u003cem\u003eCrónica de un Desayuno\u003c\/em\u003e. Sergio Schmucler was also a tireless fighter for human rights.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","ContributorBio_1":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJESSIE MENDEZ SAYER\u003c\/strong\u003e is a literary translator and editor currently based in Mexico City. She studied History and Spanish at the University of Edinburgh. She cut her teeth in the publishing world at Editorial Anagrama in Barcelona before returning to London to work as a literary scout, with a particular focus on contemporary Spanish and Latin American literature. She moved to Mexico City in 2017, where she works as a translator. Her literary translations include books by authors such as Guillermo Arriaga, Alonso Cueto, and Alberto Barrera-Tyzka.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","ContributorRole_0":"By (author)","ContributorRole_1":"Translated by","Contributor_0":"Schmucler, Sergio","Contributor_1":"Sayer, Jessie Mendez","Description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eRoma\u003c\/i\u003e meets \u003ci\u003eA Gentleman in Moscow\u003c\/i\u003e in this vivid portrait of the twentieth century, witnessed by one boy from his self-imposed refuge in Mexico City.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGalo has not left his home on Amsterdam Street, not since the day in 1938 when a shocking act of violence split his family apart. His hermitage is made easier by the peculiar design of the street. It is shaped like an ellipse — if you walk it, you will find yourself returning to the same place again and again.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlaying host to Jewish refugees, Spanish exiles, and Latin American revolutionaries, his home becomes the school at which Galo learns about a world he never sees, and the ideals and terrors that shape history. He begins to realize that Amsterdam Street, the site of endless returns, may be the true centre of the world. Appointing himself the street’s guardian, Galo witnesses the decades pass, knowing that everyone who walks away must one day come back.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA novel of rare humanity and grace, \u003ci\u003eThe Guardian of Amsterdam Street\u003c\/i\u003e is a stunning portrait of a neighbourhood where the whole of the twentieth century comes alive and a moving inquiry into how we shape the world, and how it transforms us in turn.\u003c\/p\u003e","EAN":"9781487008307","Imprint":"Anansi International","NumberOfPages":"176","OtherText_Accolades_0":"\u003cp\u003eA timely work about watching the forces of history roil forth from the confines of one’s own home. Sergio Schmucler deftly explores the illusion of control we cultivate in childhood and cling onto through adulthood, and offers the possibility of letting go of it at last. A poignant novel full of grace.\u003c\/p\u003e","OtherText_Accolades_0_Auth":"Maria Reva, author of Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize finalist Good Citizens Need Not Fear","OtherText_Accolades_1":"\u003cp\u003eIn Jessie Mendez Sayer’s superb translation, \u003cem \u003eThe Guardian of Amsterdam Street\u003c\/em\u003e introduces English-language readers to an important and deeply humane writer. Though Sergio Schmucler’s short novel elapses within just a few blocks in Mexico City — and then within a few rooms — its scope is large, encompassing history, exile, justice, fate, and love, while featuring seamless cameos by major historical figures. Schmucler’s vision, or revision, of a certain Argentinian revolutionary is especially striking and memorable.\u003c\/p\u003e","OtherText_Accolades_1_Auth":"Steven Heighton, Governor General’s Literary Award–winning author of The Waking Comes Late and Reaching Mithymna","OtherText_Accolades_2":"\u003cp\u003eThis brief, brilliant novel is no more straightforward than the Mexico City street it’s named for. If you’ve ever wandered through the La Condesa neighbourhood, you’ve likely crossed Amsterdam Street at least several times without meaning to, for it’s an ellipse rather than a straight line — you seem to keep meeting it every few blocks. In \u003cem \u003eThe Guardian of Amsterdam Street\u003c\/em\u003e, by turns surreal, satirical, allegorical, and deeply engaging, a small boy tries to leave home, but each time he does he ends up where he began. As the novel proceeds with the wonderful illogic of a melancholy fairytale, Amsterdam Street becomes a clock, a history of Mexico, the world, and finally an infinity symbol. We lose ourselves, thoroughly, delightfully, as we learn the elliptical and eventually vertiginous joys and sorrows of a street without end.\u003c\/p\u003e","OtherText_Accolades_2_Auth":"Will Aitken, author of Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize finalist Antigone Undone","OtherText_Back_cover_copy_0":"\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Guardian of Amsterdam Street \u003c\/em\u003etells a story of Mexico, but one with a different focus than prevalent narratives. It helps paint a more complete portrait of the country, like the acclaimed film \u003cem\u003eRoma\u003c\/em\u003e did several years ago. Refugee stories have also been of considerable interest lately, and this novel brings to light a time when Mexico became a sanctuary to people from all around the world fleeing danger and oppression.\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eLike Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Quartet, \u003cem\u003eThe Guardian of Amsterdam Street\u003c\/em\u003e is a socially conscious, literate, and psychologically astute portrait of individuals and a neighbourhood over several decades of the twentieth century.\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eSergio Schmucler, who passed away in 2019, was an acclaimed author and screenwriter in Latin America, with many novels, films, documentaries, and television series credits to his name. He was also recognized as a tireless defender of human rights. This novel, his first English-language translation, presents a great opportunity to introduce him to North American audiences.\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eAn Argentine author, writing about the people and culture of Latin America: in an era when cultures are often appropriated or cherry-picked for entertainment, Schmucler is an authentic voice telling a nuanced and layered Hispanic story filled with multidimensional characters.\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","OtherText_Long_description_1":"\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Guardian of Amsterdam Street \u003c\/em\u003etells a story of Mexico, but one with a different focus than prevalent narratives. It helps paint a more complete portrait of the country, like the acclaimed film \u003cem\u003eRoma\u003c\/em\u003e did several years ago. Refugee stories have also been of considerable interest lately, and this novel brings to light a time when Mexico became a sanctuary to people from all around the world fleeing danger and oppression.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLike Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Quartet, \u003cem\u003eThe Guardian of Amsterdam Street\u003c\/em\u003e is a socially conscious, literate, and psychologically astute portrait of individuals and a neighbourhood over several decades of the twentieth century.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSergio Schmucler, who passed away in 2019, was an acclaimed author and screenwriter in Latin America, with many novels, films, documentaries, and television series credits to his name. He was also recognized as a tireless defender of human rights. This novel, his first English-language translation, presents a great opportunity to introduce him to North American audiences.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAn Argentine author, writing about the people and culture of Latin America: in an era when cultures are often appropriated or cherry-picked for entertainment, Schmucler is an authentic voice telling a nuanced and layered Hispanic story filled with multidimensional characters.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","OtherText_Previous_review_q_0":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eREVIEW COPIES:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eBooklist\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","OtherText_Quote_from_review_0":"\u003cp\u003e“A timely work about watching the forces of history roil forth from the confines of one’s own home. Sergio Schmucler deftly explores the illusion of control we cultivate in childhood and cling onto through adulthood, and offers the possibility of letting go of it at last. A poignant novel full of grace.” — Maria Reva, author of Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize finalist \u003cem \u003eGood Citizens Need Not Fear\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n","OtherText_Quote_from_review_1":"\u003cp\u003e“In Jessie Mendez Sayer’s superb translation, \u003cem \u003eThe Guardian of Amsterdam Street\u003c\/em\u003e introduces English-language readers to an important and deeply humane writer. Though Sergio Schmucler’s short novel elapses within just a few blocks in Mexico City — and then within a few rooms — its scope is large, encompassing history, exile, justice, fate, and love, while featuring seamless cameos by major historical figures. Schmucler’s vision, or revision, of a certain Argentinian revolutionary is especially striking and memorable.” — Steven Heighton, Governor General’s Literary Award–winning author of \u003cem \u003eThe Waking Comes Late\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem \u003eReaching Mithymna\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n","OtherText_Quote_from_review_2":"\u003cp\u003e“This brief, brilliant novel is no more straightforward than the Mexico City street it’s named for. If you’ve ever wandered through the La Condesa neighbourhood, you’ve likely crossed Amsterdam Street at least several times without meaning to, for it’s an ellipse rather than a straight line — you seem to keep meeting it every few blocks. In \u003cem \u003eThe Guardian of Amsterdam Street\u003c\/em\u003e, by turns surreal, satirical, allegorical, and deeply engaging, a small boy tries to leave home, but each time he does he ends up where he began. As the novel proceeds with the wonderful illogic of a melancholy fairytale, Amsterdam Street becomes a clock, a history of Mexico, the world, and finally an infinity symbol. We lose ourselves, thoroughly, delightfully, as we learn the elliptical and eventually vertiginous joys and sorrows of a street without end.” — Will Aitken, author of Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize finalist \u003cem \u003eAntigone Undone\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n","OtherText_Review_0":"\u003cp\u003e“Austere yet sweeping … Schmucler touches broad themes: religion and the power and abuses of the Catholic Church, revolution and repatriation, and the responsibility we have to our ancestors, to remember but also to move on.” — \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eOn the Seawall\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","OtherText_Review_0_Auth":"Maria Reva, author of Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize finalist Good Citizens Need Not Fear","OtherText_Review_0_Src":"On the Seawall","OtherText_Review_1":"\u003cp\u003e“A deeply human book … Sergio Schmucler achieves a paradox of rare beauty: writing a book about exile that tells the story of someone who has decided not to leave his home.” — \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eLa Voz\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","OtherText_Review_1_Auth":"Steven Heighton, Governor General’s Literary Award–winning author of The Waking Comes Late and Reaching Mithymna","OtherText_Review_1_Src":"La Voz","OtherText_Review_2":"\u003cp\u003e“Humour, longing, love, sadness … A study of mankind that Schmucler reveals to the reader in The Guardian of Amsterdam Street.” — \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eArte y Cultura\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","OtherText_Review_2_Auth":"Will Aitken, author of Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize finalist Antigone Undone","OtherText_Review_2_Src":"Arte y Cultura","OtherText_Review_3":"\u003cp\u003eAustere yet sweeping … Schmucler touches broad themes: religion and the power and abuses of the Catholic Church, revolution and repatriation, and the responsibility we have to our ancestors, to remember but also to move on.\u003c\/p\u003e","OtherText_Review_3_Src":"On the Seawall","OtherText_Review_4":"A deeply human book … Sergio Schmucler achieves a paradox of rare beauty: writing a book about exile that tells the story of someone who has decided not to leave his home.","OtherText_Review_4_Src":"La Voz","OtherText_Review_5":"Humour, longing, love, sadness … A study of mankind that Schmucler reveals to the reader in The Guardian of Amsterdam Street.","OtherText_Review_5_Src":"Arte y Cultura","OtherText_ShortDescription_0":"Roma meets A Gentleman in Moscow in this vivid portrait of the twentieth century, witnessed by one boy from his self-imposed refuge in Mexico City.","ProductFormDescription":"mobi","PublicationDate":"2021-05-04","Publisher":"House of Anansi Press Inc","ShortDescription":"Roma meets A Gentleman in Moscow in this vivid portrait of the twentieth century, witnessed by one boy from his self-imposed refuge in Mexico City."}