--- product_id: 117492583 title: "The Lacuna: A Novel" brand: "barbara kingsolver" price: "€ 24.62" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 8 url: https://www.desertcart.pt/products/117492583-the-lacuna-a-novel store_origin: PT region: Portugal --- # The Lacuna: A Novel **Brand:** barbara kingsolver **Price:** € 24.62 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Lacuna: A Novel by barbara kingsolver - **How much does it cost?** € 24.62 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.pt](https://www.desertcart.pt/products/117492583-the-lacuna-a-novel) ## Best For - barbara kingsolver enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted barbara kingsolver brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Full description not available ## Images ![The Lacuna: A Novel - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91rLVXOGSRL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Once again, a book of profound beauty *by J***E on Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2017* It may have been easy for Barbara Kingsolver to choose the metaphor of the lacuna; it may have been easy for her to choose to write about Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Trotsky; but it took a literary master to create this sensitive story that ties these concepts and people together with a mixed-blood cook-cum-author laying bare the rotten bones of McCarthyism and the Anti-American hysteria of the post-war USA. Definitely a must-read, page-turner perfect for anyone not eager to see a repeat of that travesty of patriotism in our own time of ego-inflated and misogynistic politicians and policies. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Unique novel about 1940s but very relevant today *by G***C on Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2018* Barbara Kingsolver has written a unique novel about the 1940s and 50s in the US and Mexico but very relevant to today’s political environment.Harrison Shepherd grows up in US and Mexico being the son of a US government official estranged from his somewhat unstable Mexican mother. He is an outsider in the both places and a homosexual to boot. To survive he adopts a passive approach carried along by the tide of life. More or less by accident he meets prominent communists in Mexico and becomes their cook, typist and translator. As a adult he drifts into writing and later living in North Carolina. He is persecuted by the Un-American Activities Movement because of his association with Communists using lies and misguided patriotism.Finally he escapes to a new life in Mexico.The author uses some novel techniques in the book. The title, Lacuna, refers an underwater cave between two worlds, Harrison Shepherd himself as a gap between US and Mexico, Harrison’s secretary Violet Brown as the gap between oppressed women and learned independent modern women and the gap between the truth and what newspapers write. Mystery and dramatic tension comes from manipulating the information available to different characters Harrison Shepherd, Violet Brown and others.The characters in the book areHarrison Shepherd – passive, lacks freewill in most of the book.Violet Brown – active, makes positive decision to develop herself despite opposition of her familyFrida - overcomes perception of weakness of small statue and lame leg but her outspoken and prominent personalityDiego – keeps staff in poor conditions and treats them badly despite political views supporting workersLeo- proposes democratic approach to the revolution, kindly, cares about people, animals and humanityMother – free spirit looking for an interesting man to provideFather- uncaring, conservativeLeandro- father replacement teaches Harrison how to cook Mexican food and gives him goggles to see a new world underwater.The novel is set in Mexico and US but Mexico comes out way ahead as being colourful with good food passionate people and a mind boggling pre-Columbian past. US is painted as oppressive with evil people in control brainwashing the populace.Some of the issues that the novel raises are- Power of words. Harrison’s own words from his novel are used against him, something he was worries about when he translates for Leo.- How Patriotism can go wrong. Criticism of norms of the day like segregation and a different role for women were considered unpatriotic in the 1940s- Freewill vs Determinism. Was Harrison free to chose his fate or was it predetermined and he was just carried alongSome quotations I thought interesting enough to highlight in my ereader are- Cortes – much grieved to burn the people but since it was more grievous to them he determined to do it- Azteca warriors uselessly flinging arrows at Cortes, just before their hearts were blown apart by cannon fire- What they left behind is in every measure as grand and elegant as the white marble temples of Greece- He wrote about those who came before giving flesh to their cares- Un-American hysteria not about communism but about insecurity (Arthur Gold)- Anti-Communist persecution (Arthur Gold) .. like putting poison on the lawn .. Kills the crabgrass all right but then you have a lot of dead stuff there for a very long timeQuestions for reader- The McCarthy era was down point for America but is some of the hysteria coming back ?- What is Patriotism about in 2018? Does it also include a committment preserving the bad things from the past ? ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Timely again! *by E***E on Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2017* I enjoyed reading The Lacuna, and kept thinking how timely this book is, despite being published in 2010. It is a beautiful, if sad story, covering a period of time and places I knew little about. Kingsolver writes beautifully. I noticed that some reviewers on Amazon disliked the second portion of the novel, while loving the first part. There are 2 distinct parts of this book, one darker than the other. But I think both parts are well-written, and fit together perfectly. And the book comes around in a perfect circle to a moving, beautiful ending. You cannot come to the ending, and have it mean anything without having moved through both the lively first and the darker second parts. And both parts of the book introduce us to entertaining characters, beautifully drawn, as usual with Kingsolver. I really recommend the book and think it is a book for our present moment, especially!I don't want to issue spoilers, but think I can say without risking much that the main character is a gay man in the 1920's - 1950's, moving between Mexico (1st part of the book) and the U.S. (2nd part of the book). My argument for why it is so relevant right now is how the book shows the pressures and crusades against gays (and really anybody non-conforming) in the U.S. during much of this time period. Since there are currently so many hateful acts against gays, and apparently the climate has changed so our government may be seen by some as supporting such acts, it's worth being aware of history! I recommend this book, not just as history, or "mental vegetables," but because it is a beautiful story and fun to read. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.pt/products/117492583-the-lacuna-a-novel](https://www.desertcart.pt/products/117492583-the-lacuna-a-novel) --- *Product available on Desertcart Portugal* *Store origin: PT* *Last updated: 2026-05-16*