Mujica Lainez is a very well known an respected writer in Argentina. I was not very familiar with his work but once I read El Escarabajo I have to say that he captured me. This is a wonderful book. It's your chance to take a trip to human histoy through the most beautiful spanish writing. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

It is a worth reading book. Of course, it is in Spanish. I do not know whether it has been translated into English. It is absolutely well written.

The book "Misteriosa Buenos Aires" is one of the best I have ever read. The atmosphere the author gives to the whole work, together with the strategic episodes Manuel Mujica Láinez chooses to show the soul of Buenos Aires city, makes the reader feel absolutely captured by the novel and learn about the most hidden and strange details of life in the Rio de la Plata as centuries go by. Summing up: it is a really amazing volume everyone should have at home, describing not only historical events in Buenos Aires, but also details about the human soul.

Out of print now, I found this book only through browsing through a library book sale. Translated into English, it is probably a poor shadow of what it must be in its original language, but the epic feeling is still brought through in this novel. The book follows the story of one fairy, doomed to immortality, Melusine, as she travels from France to Jersualem during the Crusades. She follows one boy, Aiol (her descendant), who she is in love with and sacrifices much to be with him. It is also the Aiol's story as much as Melusine, as the hunted 'unicorn,' the blameless and at the same time, the sinful.

Rich in description, the war- and religion-torn society of the Crusades is brought through rich and evocative images of life in Jerusalem as a knight, a Crusader. What I thought was the most interesting was the theme central to this novel--'forbidden love,' in all forms, are examined...but not wholly judged. Incest, homosexuality, and simple unrequited love are some themes touched in this book that I thought was interesting in their portrayal. I recommend this to anyone with a taste for history and fantasy--it is excellent, and I enjoyed it immensely.

I'm interested in getting the book "Bomarzo" of Manuel Mújica Lainez in italian

Mujica Lainez escribe un gran libro, una OBRA literaria, pero me abrumo un poco con el exceso de informacion sobre la epoca. Si nos queria demostrar que es un experto en el tema del renacimiento, lo logro, pero a cambio vuelve la trama un tanto densa y confusa.

Me parece que Mujica Lainez escribe para los escritores y no para el publico en general. Reconozco que es un gran libro por un gran autor y que todos deberiamos hacer el esfuerzo de leerlo, y aclaro que en verdad hay momentos que uno debe esforzarse por continuar con la lectura. Solo por eso no le doy las cinco estrellas.

It's a pity...I really would like to read this book in italian

I had hoped, after reading the back cover, to enjoy this novel greatly. However, the book is extremely slow and only occasionally picks up a bit. It's filled with death, curses, and lots of sexual innuendo. The author is constantly caught up in his attempt to achieve verisimilitude, and he strains the lead characters believability and in general annoys the reader with his constant interuptions. The story flows well enough but I've had to force myself to keep reading, and I, like most readers, would rather not have to beg myself to turn the page and keep going. On the good side the book is rather realistic in its historical background of the crusades, if you omit the fairies and angels flying around. My advice is that unless you just happen to like reading boring things don't bother!