The Infinite Plan

London: Harper Collins, 1993. A near Fine unmarked copy which has age toning to page edges with VG+ dustjacket which is not price clipped. 382 pages. Translated from the Spanish by Margaret Sayers Peden. The Chilean author's magnificent novel tells the story of Gregory Reeves, the son of Charles, an itinerant preacher. As a boy, Gregory accepts the endless journeying and poverty, never questioning the validity of his father's homespun philosophy of life - the infinite plan. But, as manhood approaches, Gregory finds himself increasingly possessed by a yearning to escape. Hankering after worldly wealth, he longs to breal away from the barrio, the teeming Hispanic ghetto of downtown Los Angeles where his family has finally settled. His quest takes him first to the killing fields of Vietnam, then to law school at Berkeley, and in the course of his life, he is influenced by a host of unforgettable characters: Olga, a fortune-teller from whom he first learns about love; Carmen, his beautiful, lifelong friend; Martinez, a ferocious Latino gang-leader; Susan and Joan, two inspirational feminist free-thinkers; Cyrus, a wise old communist intellectual; and the nameless narrator herself, who helps Gregory come full circle and discover his soul by turning back to his roots. 14. First Edition. Hard Cover. Near Fine/Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.