The novel takes place during the Venezuelan crisis and the collapse of Chavismo, amid a mass exodus of the intellectual class. The protagonist, Ulises Kahn, receives news from his wife, Paulina: she is leaving him and fleeing the country. Two subsequent events further change Kahn's life: the return of Nadine, his once-unfulfilled love, and the death of his father-in-law, General Martín Ayala. From Ayala's will, Ulises learns that he has been entrusted with the mission of converting the large family mansion into a shelter for abandoned dogs. If he succeeds in completing this task on time, he will inherit the luxurious apartment he once shared with his wife. This book is about family and orphanhood, about love and betrayal, about the fight against abuse of power, and about political processes in Venezuela. Rodrigo Blanco Calderón is one of the most prominent voices in contemporary Latin American literature. LONGLIST FOR THE MAN BOKER PRIZE 2024

About the author: Rodrigo Blanco Calderón is a Venezuelan writer and editor. Born in 1981 in Caracas, he joined Bogotá 39, a group of the best contemporary Latin American authors under thirty-nine, in 2007. In 2013, he participated in the International Writing Program and visited the University of Iowa as a visiting author. The following year, his story 'Emuntorios' was included in Thirteen Crime Stories from Latin America, the 46th issue of the anthology published by the prestigious McSweeney's.