In this episode of the History Slam, Sean Graham talks with Carmen Rodriguez, author of Atacama: A Novel, tells the story of two 12-year-olds in Chile in the early 20th century, brought together at a time when workers’ rights and collective action around the world were changing the face of Chilean life. Together they forge a lifelong connection through their opposition and resistance to the autocratic regime and repressive military.

They discuss the benefits of telling historical stories through fiction, the challenge of having more historical context than the characters, and Carmen’s personal history with Chilean political resistance. They also chat about the book’s message of hope, the contributions of Chilean immigrants in Canada, and the universal themes present in the book.

Visit Carmen’s webiste at CarmenRodriguez.ca

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