GringosAuthor: Portis, CharlesPublication Date: 05/01/2000Format: PaperbackFollowing the enormous success of the reissues of Charles Portis's first three novels—The Dog of the South, Norwood, and Masters of Atlantis—comes the reissue of a fourth truly brilliant, wonderfully bizarre novel by one of our great American novelists. Jimmy Burns is an expatriate American living in Mexico who has an uncommonly astute eye for the absurd little details that comprise your average American. For a time, Jimmy spent his days unearthing pre-Colombian artifacts. Now he makes a living doing small trucking jobs and helping out with the occasional missing person situation—whatever it takes to remain "the very picture of an American idler in Mexico, right down to the grass-green golfing trousers." But when Jimmy's laid-back lifestyle is seriously imposed upon by a ninety-pound stalker called Louise, a sudden wave of "hippies" (led by a murderous ex-con guru) in search of psychic happenings, and a group of archaeologists who are unearthing (illegally) Mayan tombs, his simple South-of-the-Border existence faces a clear and present danger. "Charles Portis is perhaps the most original, indescribable sui generis talent overlooked by literary culture in America."—Ron Rosenbaum, Esquire "I've always thought Charles Portis had a wonderful talent—original, quirky, exciting. Gringos demonstrates that he's only gotten better. It's an engaging, touching book."—Larry McMurtry "Some of the funniest writing ever produced anywhere ...you will be stalking the house for someone to read long passages to, or getting on the phone, if it comes to that."—Dallas Morning News (Norwood/Dog of the South)
