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Alejandro Morales, the son of Mexican immigrants, was born in Montebello, California. He earned his Ph.D. from Rutgers University. Morales is professor emeritus in the Department of Chicano/Latino Studies at the University of California, Irvine. Recognized by many as a pioneer of Chicano Latino literature who writes in Spanish and English, Morales has authored several historical biographies in which he tells the fictional story of a character’s life using historical personages and events, bringing together his love for both history and writing. His works are examples of Miguel de Unamuno’s idea of Intra History, writing about the significance of the lives of ordinary people; of Linda Hutcheon’s theory of Historiographic Metafiction, the practice of writing aware of theory, history and fiction as strategies to rethink and reevaluate the past; and Irving Stone’s practice of writing biographical novels. His research explores a variety of topics that concern the Chicano/Latino community including: history, immigration, race relations, ethnicity, family, labor, education, religion, memory, gender, power, border, borderlands and the fantastic. Recipient of the Luis Leal Award for Distinction in Chicano/Latino Literature, Morales was recognized for his contributions to Chicano/Latino literature and his accomplishments as a major American writer.
Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite
Alejandro Morales’ The Place of the White Heron is a unique and captivating blend of history, mythology, and modern political allegory. Grounded in the tensions between the United States and México, the novel is a powerful exploration of cultural and spiritual identity, embodied through the protagonist, J. I. Cruz, a mythic female figure. Morales masterfully intertwines allusions to pre-Columbian goddesses, religious figures, and Mexican folklore, making J. I. Cruz is like a spiritual anchor in a world besieged by violence and racism. The setting and characters are richly symbolic, providing a layered narrative that forces readers to grapple with deeper historical and cultural traumas. Morales’s prose is lyrical, almost poetic, and in-depth, fitting for a novel released by a press known for its poetry.
The Place of the White Heron isn't a light read; it requires engagement with the mythological and historical undercurrents it deeply mines. Yet, it feels vital for anyone interested in the intersections of identity, culture, and the political realities shaping our world today. Morales uses Cruz's journey to give a voice to the forgotten and the marginalized, imbuing the novel with a haunting, almost otherworldly resonance. Fans of cultural, literary fiction that blends allegory with contemporary issues will appreciate The Place of the White Heron for its depth and beauty. Readers who enjoy the works of Gloria Anzaldua and Laurie Ann Guerrero will find Morales’s work equally engaging and thought-provoking. It's a novel that asks difficult questions and leaves a lasting impression. I highly recommend this book.
