Canaima (novel)


Canaima is a Venezuelan novel. It was written by Rómulo Gallegos and published in 1935.

Plot

The Orinoco jungle is the main character and at the same time the reason behind all of the other characters' actions. The struggle against nature and yearning for riches, dominion and power are the main themes in the novel. Canaima represents a bitter struggle against caudillism. Its author depicts the jungle from an ideological standpoint, which translates into his characters' development. Marcos Vargas, returns to Ciudad Bolívar after his studies in Trinidad, finally settling by the waters of Yuruari river.

Characters

A film adaptation of the novel was made in 1945, directed by Juan Bustillo Oro. The cast included Jorge Negrete as Marcos Vargas, Gloria Marín as Magualida, Rosario Granados as Arcelis, Alfredo Varela as Arteguita, Andrés Soler as Giaffaro, Carlos López Moctezuma as José Francisco Ardavín, and Alfonso Bedoya as Cholo Parima.