Martín Fierro: An Epic of the Argentine (1923) is an epic poem and
accompanying scholarship by José Hernández and Henry A. Holmes.
Originally published in two parts, the poem has been praised as a
defining work of Argentine literature for its depiction of national
identity in relation to the gaucho culture, which was used to
consolidate the historical and political image of the country against
European influence. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Hernández was a
writer who grew up in a ranching family, who knew firsthand the prowess
of a people who helped Argentina free itself from Spanish control.Martín
Fierro is a masterpiece of Spanish-language literature that continues to
define and inform Argentine culture today. In this text, scholar Henry
A. Holmes translates parts of the poem while contextualizing it
alongside works of Hernández's predecessors. In addition, Holmes
provides invaluable information on the poet's life, discusses the
significance of the gaucho in Argentine literature, and investigates the
portrayal of the indigenous peoples of Argentina in the poem. With a
beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this
edition of José Hernández and Henry A. Holmes' Martín Fierro: An Epic
of the Argentine is a classic of Argentine literature reimagined for
modern readers.