The Sovereign: A Political Fiction Novel About Puerto Rican Independence
The Sovereign by Andrew E. Colarusso is a political fiction novel set against the backdrop of Puerto Rico's complex colonial history. This experimental narrative unfolds on October 13, as Lieutenant Frances Villegas attempts to play Stravinsky's Petrushka while awaiting Adjutant General Arjún J. Joglar on the eve of the Evangelist Insurrection.
A Centennial Chronicle of the Jones Act
Published to mark the 100th anniversary of the Jones-Shafroth Act of 1917—which granted U.S. citizenship to Puerto Ricans—this novel serves as both tribute and critique of the island nation's history. The narrative explores what happens when the great city faces destruction, swallowed by Caribbean waters, all in the name of declaring independence.
Experimental Fiction Meets Caribbean Magical Realism
Colarusso employs hybrid chronicle techniques that stretch across multiple temporal directions. The novel warps the charming magical realism associated with the Latin Boom through an emancipated colonial lens. This avant-garde approach creates an uncanny spectacle that examines the blood price a people must pay for freedom.
Dark Political Thriller Elements
The story features intense scenes including Baldomero Richter presiding over a captive body, awaiting termination orders. These darker elements underscore the novel's meditation on ecstatic freedom and the violence inherent in revolutionary movements.
About Author Andrew E. Colarusso
Brooklyn-born Andrew E. Colarusso holds a BA in Comparative Literature from New York University and an MFA from Brown University. He founded and serves as editor-in-chief of The Broome Street Review. Published by Dalkey Archive Press, this paperback represents Colarusso's contribution to contemporary Puerto Rican literature and experimental fiction.
The Sovereign offers readers an extended meditation on colonial history, political upheaval, and the meaning of true independence through the lens of Puerto Rico's relationship with the United States.
