"Zama"

"Zama" is a novel written by Argentine author Antonio Di Benedetto. It tells the story of Don Diego de Zama, a Spanish colonial officer in 18th-century Paraguay. The novel explores his feelings of alienation, longing, and frustration as he grapples with his desire for social status and recognition, while facing bureaucratic obstacles and cultural isolation. The narrative highlights themes of existential despair and the human condition within colonial power structures. Praised for its innovative literary style, "Zama" offers a profound meditation on identity, ambition, and the inescapable nature of individual longing.