The Tango Novel as Chaotic Mirror: El último tango de Salvador Allende de Roberto Ampuero and La amante de Gardel de Mayra Santos-Febres

Abstract

This article explores the tango novel as a distinct pan-Latin American literary genre, transcending its Buenos Aires origins to reflect the complexities of identity in Latin America. Focusing on Mayra Santos-Febres’ La Amante de Gardel and Roberto Ampuero’s El último tango de Salvador Allende, it examines how tango operates as a narrative and philosophical device, using the concept of the mirror to navigate themes of identity, longing, and the tension between ser and parecer. Drawing on psychoanalytic theory (Lacan, Silverman) and cultural complexity, this study critiques Zubarik’s linear framework, proposing instead that tango novels embrace fragmented, non-linear storytelling. Tango’s synesthetic qualities are highlighted as a bridge between individual memory and collective history, underscoring its role in shaping personal and cultural narratives. By positioning the tango novel as a “chaotic mirror”, the article offers a new lens for understanding the fluid, hybrid nature of Latin American identity and its interplay with art, music, and literature.