Deep Rivers

About “Deep Rivers”

This novel by José María Arguedas is used for teaching Peruvian and Latin American literature and cultural history at the university level. It can also be read at upper sixth-form level because the plot is uncomplicated and the emotional atmosphere is easy to understand. The story follows a young man growing up in highland Peru within a deeply divided society. He faces challenges related to language and culture and develops an alternative vision of Peru based on native Indian sensibility and traditions. The novel incorporates key elements of Peruvian history and culture, particularly popular memory. The introduction explains the plot, interprets major episodes, and describes native cultural elements, such as the use of myth.