On Heroes and Tombs

About “On Heroes and Tombs”

Published in 1961, the novel was written by Argentine author Ernesto Sabato. It stands out in Latin American literature by combining diverse elements that set it apart from other works in the region. It is often called a "total novel" and features unusual surrealist elements, particularly in the section titled "El Informe sobre ciegos." The story follows a character's development, placing it within the tradition of the Bildungsroman, a genre common in German literature. The novel also explores a family over a long period, with a decadent tone that links it thematically to works by Faulkner and García Márquez.