The Motorcycle Diases

The Motorcycle Diases. *The Motorcycle Diases* is a posthumously published travel memoir by Argentine revolutionary Ernesto Guevara, chronicling his youthful journey across South America in 1952 with his friend Alberto Granado. The narrative, drawn from Guevara's personal diaries, details their adventures on a dilapidated Norton motorcycle nicknamed "La Poderosa" as they traverse the Andes, the Atacama Desert, and the Amazon rainforest. The journey is presented as a formative experience that exposed Guevara to the continent's stark social inequalities, profoundly shaping his later ideological evolution into the iconic Marxist guerrilla known as Che Guevara.

Plot summary

The journey begins in Córdoba, where medical student Ernesto Guevara and his biochemist friend Alberto Granado embark on their trip aiming to reach a leper colony in Peru. Their motorcycle breaks down in southern Chile, forcing them to continue by hitchhiking, on foot, and by raft. Key episodes include working as volunteer firefighters in Temuco, witnessing the plight of persecuted communist miners in the Chuquicamata copper mine, and their profound stay at the San Pablo leper colony on the Amazon River. There, Guevara's gesture of refusing to wear gloves when shaking hands with the patients symbolizes a breaking of social barriers. The narrative concludes with Guevara's reflective departure for Miami by plane, while Granado remains in Venezuela, their perspectives irrevocably altered.

Background and publication

The text is based on the actual trip diaries kept by the 23-year-old Ernesto Guevara during his 1952 journey, undertaken before his final medical exams at the University of Buenos Aires. The diaries remained private until after his 1967 execution in Bolivia following his involvement in the Cuban Revolution and later guerrilla campaigns. Guevara's widow, Aleida March, along with the Centro de Estudios Che Guevara, eventually prepared the manuscript for publication. It was first published in Cuba in 1993 as *Mi primer gran viaje*, with the definitive edition released later that year by Editorial Planeta in Barcelona. The publication coincided with a renewed global interest in Guevara's life and image, separate from his political mythology.

Themes and analysis

The memoir is centrally concerned with the protagonist's awakening political and social consciousness, documenting his transformation from an apolitical adventurer into a nascent revolutionary. A dominant theme is the critique of neocolonialism and the stark contrast between the natural beauty of Latin America and the poverty of its indigenous and working-class people, as seen in Mendoza, the Atacama Desert, and Machu Picchu. The narrative explores concepts of Pan-Americanism and a collective Latin American identity, while also serving as a classic Bildungsroman. The journey's medical purpose—visiting leper colonies—frames a deeper inquiry into societal sickness and healing, with the San Pablo leper colony episode highlighting themes of human solidarity versus social ostracization.

Reception and legacy

Upon its release, *The Motorcycle Diases* was critically acclaimed for its literary merit and its raw, introspective portrayal of a historical figure. It won the 1994 Premio Literario Casa de las Américas and became an international bestseller, translated into dozens of languages. The book significantly influenced the popular perception of Che Guevara, complementing his revolutionary iconography with a more human, intellectual dimension. It is considered a foundational text of Latin American travel writing and a key primary source for understanding Guevara's ideological origins. The memoir's legacy is intertwined with the continued commercial and cultural phenomenon of Guevara's image, as well as scholarly debates about his life and impact on Cold War history.

Adaptations

The memoir was adapted into a highly successful 2004 feature film, *The Motorcycle Diaries*, directed by Walter Salles and produced by Robert Redford's Wildwood Enterprises. The screenplay was written by Puerto Rican playwright José Rivera, and the film starred Gael García Bernal as Guevara and Rodrigo de la Serna as Granado. The film won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Al Otro Lado del Río" and the BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language, garnering widespread acclaim for its cinematography and performances. A 2012 stage play adaptation was also produced in London's Royal Court Theatre, further cementing the story's status in popular culture.

Category:1993 books Category:Argentine travel books Category:Memoirs