10 Books That Will Make You Dream of Argentina

A good way to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of a trip to come is to read books about the country in question. Whether you are setting off for Argentina or simply dream of doing so, you will find plenty of inspiration. Not only does Argentina boast a rich literary tradition, but travel writing about places such as Patagonia ranks among the very best of the genre. Whether you fancy following a journey to the end of the world or getting to know everyday life on the pampas, here are 10 top books to make you dream of Argentina.

A classic from one of the most fascinating voices of the twentieth century. Guevara's account (written when he was in his twenties) of his 8,000-kilometre journey portrays the whole of Argentina through the eyes of a young revolutionary. At once political and personal, this book takes us from the Andes to the Amazon, by way of the Atacama Desert.

Nearly half a century after it was first published, In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin remains one of the most beloved travel books of all time. It is a book that still delights everyone who dreams of making a journey to the very end of the world. Retracing his adventures from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, Chatwin describes the people, the wildlife and the spectacular landscapes he encounters along the way.

Patagonia is clearly a great source of inspiration! Enduring Patagonia offers another plunge into its vast landscapes. After seven separate expeditions to the region, author Gregory Crouch shares his reflections and experiences in this wild environment, including his preparations and the ordeals he went through. It is a book to recommend to anyone who loves adventure travel, in one of the most fascinating places on earth.

Bringing together songs, poems, comics and essays, The Argentina Reader offers a way to get to know the country's history, society and culture. Capturing what lies at the essence of a nation is a demanding task, especially for one as complex as Argentina. By giving voice to works and extracts about or from Argentina, a portrait of the country takes shape that covers every aspect, from sport to psychoanalysis by way of political philosophy. An essential book about Argentina.

You do not need to be a football fan to know that Argentina helped shape the sport. Players such as Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi are known throughout the world. Rather than dealing only with football, this book shows how it is a cultural phenomenon that has influenced the country even beyond the stadiums. A must-read for sports enthusiasts and anyone curious to see where sport and history meet.

This is an old text, first published in 1872, yet one that remains essential. Included in the UNESCO Collection of Representative Works, this classic may well be the most famous example of literatura gauchesca, a genre that portrays the life of the heroic gauchos. This epic poem describes life on the pampas and offers an incomparable insight into life in rural Argentina.

It would be impossible to talk about Argentine literature without mentioning its most celebrated writer. Borges is known for his intricate short stories that read like the labyrinths he so loved to imagine. Abstract, magical and unmatched in world literature, the stories collected in Fictions make a fine introduction to one of the great literary minds of the last century.

Cortázar is another giant of Argentine letters, famous for the innovative narrative techniques that influenced a whole generation of Spanish-speaking writers. Hopscotch is one of his best-known works, but we recommend this anthology of short stories, which gives a good overview of his range and will take you travelling to different parts of Argentina. Short Stories and Other Tales is an anthology of his works.

An international bestseller, The Tunnel is a fairly short psychological novel with an existential dimension. Told from the point of view of a man imprisoned for killing a woman who obsessed him, this book paints vivid portraits of Buenos Aires and an estancia south of the city. It is set in the 1940s, during the Perón years, and remains a classic of Argentine realist literature.

If you love tango, The Tango Singer will give you a vivid glimpse of local culture and the many facets of Buenos Aires. Published in 2005, it is a reflection on Argentina at the turn of the twenty-first century, told through the story of an American student in search of a beautiful and mysterious tango singer. The way this novel sweeps the reader through the streets of the capital makes it a wonderful introduction to the magic of Buenos Aires.

Do write to us if we have left out your favourite Argentine book, or to share your thoughts after reading one of these recommendations. These books will make you long to discover Argentina, or make a pleasant travelling companion to read on the road.

How will Argentina inspire you? Its vast expanses and cultural richness await. Find the trip that will set your imagination alight!