Desert as a dump in El alemán de Atacama by Roberto Ampuero: ecoliterature in times of global economy

Abstract

The increasing development of the neo-detective black novel in Chile is another proof that we are going through a fundamental artistic change. Being technologically and aesthetically impeccable, this novel’s variants normally are produced by highly professional writers. However and in spite of the mentioned factors, they are not short on popularity and selling success. El alemán de Atacama by Roberto Ampuero is the second novel of the fictional detective Cayetano Brulet’s saga. As in others of his novels, this one entails a reflection about the nation-state’s indulgence, devastating effects of global economy, ethnic groups’ precariousness, and ecologic destruction.