What is Doña Barbara?

Doña Bárbara is a novel written by the Venezuelan Rómulo Gallegos and published by Editorial Araluce, on February 15 , 1929 . 1 It has been republished more than forty times and translated into other languages. It consists of three parts and is set in Apure plains in Venezuela , on the Arauca river property .

Doña Bárbara is the most popular Venezuelan novel: since its appearance in 1929, it has been read avidly perhaps because between the lines Gallegos expressed his rebellion against the dictatorial regime of Juan Vicente Gómez and the backwardness that the country was experiencing. The novel examines the sociological topic, rooted in positivism, civilization versus barbarism in rural Venezuelan life. Among other merits, the writer's mastery in terms of character creation stands out, as well as the description of the llanero landscape.