Published postumously, De sobremesa is one of the greatest examples of Latin American Modernist Literature to come out of the end of the 19th century. Filled with abundant references to art, philosophy, and a variety of great thinkers of the age, this novel reveals to the reader the concerns of those troubled souls who attmepted to deal with their crisis of faith through writing. The protagonist, Jose Fernandez de Sotomayor y Andrade reads a journal he had written sometime before while in Paris to a circle of intimate friends. In a series of excerpts from the journal, the story takes shape as Jose delves into the modernist aesthetic values of his time. Through several sexual encouters, drug use, and all round abuse of the senses, Jose arrives at a total ennui, ultimately feeling physically the frustration of his soul. After consulting a couple of doctors, and atttempting to travel to forget his problems, Jose finally finds salvation in a young woman whom he chances upon. Later, he finds that this young lady is almost identical to that of a Fr. Angelico, preraphaelite painting. The remainder of the novel is Jose's search for his own salvation in the semi mythical person of Scilly Dancourt's daughter. What makes this novel stand out is the shear volume of references and complex emotions that are presented within its pages. De Sobremesa reveals the very soul of its author. It offers us as readers a chance to experience the discourse of art taken to its greatest extreme while the main character rejects religion, science, and philosophy to find his way to some artistic haven. The details of the setting, combined with a powerful plot and a passionate protagonist make this a must read for anyone interested in the period.

Dever writes a very interesting and incisive comparison of Castro's and Silva's poetry, using literary and historical themes to highlight the meaning and durability of their works. I highly recommend this book because it addresses, through these authors' poetry, some of the most important questions about human life, in a highly enjoyable and "readable" format.