Book Synopsis

A beautifully written and deeply moving autobiography by one of the "greatest living Latin American writers" (Newsweek)

In this remarkable memoir, author Ariel Dorfman describes an extraordinary life, torn between the United States, South America, and his Jewish heritage, between English and Spanish, between revolution and repression. Interwoven with the story of how Dorfman switched languages and countries--not once, but three times--is a day-to-day account of his multiple escapes from death during Pinochet's military takeover of Chile in 1973. Combining eight vignettes of his life before 1973 with eight scenes from the coup, Dorfman filters these events through an engaging, hybrid consciousness.

Heading South, Looking North is at once a vivid account of a life as complex and mysterious as the fictional characters Dorfman has created, and an enthralling search for a permanent home, a political cause, and a cultural identity.

About the Author

Ariel Dorfman is an Argentine-Chilean-American poet, novelist, essayist, playwright, and humans rights activist. His books have been published in over 50 languages, and his works include How to Read Donald Duck, Darwin's Ghosts, Cauvitos, and Allegro. He lives with his family in Durham, North Carolina, where he now holds the Walter Hines Page chair at Duke University.