Skin of the Sky (Best Foreign Novel of the 21st Century)

Author: Poliatowska
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-12-01
Features: The Sky's Skin is a selection from the "Best Foreign Novel of the 21st Century" award, representing the literature of Western, Spanish, and Latin American countries. The book depicts the life and experiences of an astronomer. Born into a humble background and stubborn in character, Lorenzo was deeply fascinated by astronomy. After graduating from high school, he had the opportunity to work in the field of astronomy and furthered his studies at Harvard University. Upon returning to his homeland, he was assigned to an observatory. Due to his outstanding research achievements, he was later promoted to the director of another observatory. However, the realities of Mexican society caused Lorenzo to devote much of his intelligence to dealing with bureaucracy and interpersonal relationships, while his own "lack of common sense" also made it difficult for him to integrate into normal social life. He faced numerous troubles at work and was equally helpless in matters of the heart. This book thoroughly documents the social life, political background, and economic conditions of contemporary Mexico, incorporating both specialized astronomical knowledge and descriptions of local customs, dialects, and colloquialisms.