Literary Legacy

I enjoyed reading Mark Day’s remarks concerning the Peruvian novelist Jose Maria Arguedas (“Endpapers,” The Book Review, Nov. 15).

Arguedas’ “Deep Rivers” has a haunting quality, especially when one considers its prophetic nature relative to Arguedas’ suicide attempts. However, unlike a minor character in this novel who only goes through the motions of committing suicide, Arguedas finally succeeded in ending his life. Fortunately, Arguedas’ literary legacy and another caring Peruvian novelist, Mario Vargas Llosa, can help us understand the present-day turmoil in Peru.

DIANE M. STICKLE

Los Angeles