Beyond the Pages: The Vortex

A journey through the Colombian jungle reveals the beauty of the landscape alongside the violence and exploitation of the early 20th-century rubber trade. The discussion takes place Friday, November 6 at The Wolfsonian-FIU in Miami Beach. Part of the museum’s Beyond the Pages series, the program examines José Eustasio Rivera’s novel The Vortex through themes reflected in The Wolfsonian’s collection.

The novel follows lovers Alicia and Arturo as their flight into the wilderness draws them into a world shaped by forced labor, greed and environmental hardship. Chief librarian Frank Luca will facilitate the conversation, connecting Rivera’s literary portrayal of the rubber industry with its broader historical and cultural context.

The program is free with advance registration.