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'''''A Campanha''''' (''La Campaña'' em [[Língua castelhana|espanhol]]) é uma [[novela]] do escritor [[México|mexicano]] [[Carlos Fuentes]], publicada em [[1990]].
<ref>{{cita web|url=http://www.netsaber.com.br/resumos/ver_resumo_c_42750.html|título=Resumo de A Campanha - Carlos Fuentes|fechaacceso=20 de dezembro de 2010|autor=|fecha=|editorial=netsaber.com|idioma=português|cita=}}</ref>
Nela, o liberal argentino Manuel Varela narra as aventuras do amigo Baltasar Bustos, que lutou nas [[Independência da América Espanhola|guerras de independência da América Espanhola]], no ínício do século XIX. Além de caracteres ficcionais, como Varela e Bustos, nela também aparecem personagens históricos reais, como o [[José de San Martín|general San Martín]] e o intelectual [[Simón Rodríguez (pensador)|Simón Rodríguez]].
Aguns críticos consideram "A Campanha" como a melhor novela de Fuentes. A narrativa é sutil e complexa, embora não contenha as experimentações literárias que caracterizam outras obras do autor, tornando-a uma leitura mais fácil e prazerosa. A preocupação de Fuentes com a compreensão da História, no entanto, é um traço que compartilha com suas demais novelas, bem como com obras de outros autores, como [[O General em Seu Labirinto]], de [[Gabriel García Márquez]]. Em "A Campanha", Carlos Fuentes consegue conciliar a precisão histórica com a fantasia literária, proporcionando ao leitor ao mesmo tempo momentos de intenso prazer estético e uma visão ampla e vívida daquele momento histórico decisivo para o continente.
Carlos Fuentes declarou certa vez que, na criação de Baltasar Bustos, recebeu inspiração de [[Liev Tolstói|Tolstói]]: o personagem Pierre Bekuzov, de [[Guerra e Paz]].
Baltasar volta a Buenos Aires com o filho de Ofelia, apesar de ainda céptico quanto à verdade das palavras de Quintana a respeito de Ofelia Salamanca. Ao final, Manuel Varela, o narrador, esclarece aos leitores que Ofelia era realmente espiã insurgente, que havia-se tornado sua amante quando em Buenos Aires, e que o garoto adotado por Baltasar era na realidade filho dele, e não do marquês de Cabra.
<ref>{{cita web|url=http://ojs.c3sl.ufpr.br/ojs-2.2.4/index.php/economia/article/download/2006/1667|título=A Campanha de Carlos Fuentes|fechaacceso=20 de dezembro de 2010|autor=Igor Carneiro Leão Zanoni|editorial=UFPR| Editora netsaber.com|idioma=português|cita=Economia, Curitiba, 28/29, (26-27), p. 363-364, 2002/2003}}</ref>
== Temas ==
Esta obra de Fuentes analisa diversos aspectos do momento histórico focalizado:
* os variados conflitos que um revolucionário precisa enfrentar. Entre eles, podem-se citar: os dilemas liberdade x igualdade, fé x razão, lealdade à família x lealdade aos ideais, etc.;
* as diferenças raciais e de classes na América Espanhola, com os espanhóis no topo, os [[crioulos]] (brancos nascidos na colônia) logo abaixo, os mestiços a seguir e índios e negros na base, e como essas diferenças deram origem a diferentes visões com relação à independência e ao prospecto da revolução, bem como obrigaram à luta através de meios específicos;
* o ambiente político e social da época: a influência dos iluministas, das guerras napoleônicas e do liberalismo econômico sobre o processo revolucionário;
* as particularidades locais, a fragmentação política, as lutas internas pelo poder político, as rivalidades regionais e os interesses econômicos conflitantes dos diferentes grupos (fazendeiros, comerciantes, etc.);
the racial differences of Latin America and how the social hierarchy contributed to the political environment, the different views concerning independence and the prospect of revolution, location and boundaries as an influence on political opinions, foreign events and their impact on the society, and the roles of significant historical figures of the revolution.
One of the major themes in The Campaign has to do with the issue of race and equality with regard to the Spanish colonies in America and the subsequent effect that a revolution would have on such an issue. Within the Spanish American colonies the hierarchy of the various racial or social groups was very distinct and determined much of the social order and power structure. Creoles, or those of Spanish heritage born in the colonies, were subservient to people born in Spain. Mestizos and Mulattos, those of a mixed ethnic background, were below Creoles. Finally, blacks and Indians were at the bottom. Fuentes brings this to light many times throughout the book, mainly by having Baltasar Bustos constantly struggle with the notion of equality for all the peoples of the colonies. One example of this is at the very beginning of the book. Baltasar switches the baby of a crown official with the baby of a black prostitute. With this singular act of rebellion, Bustos hoped to in some way alter the mindset of the Spanish parents. More than that, it was Fuentes attempt to illustrate the social order of Spain's American colonies. Not only was it an act showing the inequality between blacks and whites, but also an act of defiance from a Creole against a "Spanish oppressor." Through this, Fuentes does an excellent job of illustrating the historical backdrop and cultural environment in which the book is taking place.
Another important historical theme that Fuentes incorporates into his book, is the fact that independence and revolution meant different things to different people throughout the colonies. Crown officials and natives of Spain were obviously opposed to the idea because would mean an end to their power with a possibility of death. Creoles, for the most part, were in favor of the idea, because they were the leading candidates to assume control within the colonies. For lower, classes, too, the idea of revolution and independence from Spain meant that there was at least a chance for freedom and equality. However, as Fuentes points out in his description of Baltasar's travels, independence did not necessarily unit everyone against the common foe. Many groups formed their own revolutionary guerilla movements.
In keeping with his high level of historical accuracy and relevancy, Fuentes makes it clear that regional differences and ones location in the colonies also contributed to ones outlook on revolution. Baltasar Bustos, although somewhat conflicted in that he was born in the Pampa, is a Buenos Aires intellectual with a very idealistic vision of the future and the purpose of the revolution. Again, the various guerilla groups that Fuentes describes, illustrates the regional loyalty one might have despite his race or social status. When Fuentes writes about Bustos' time with the guerilla army of Miguel Lanza, is clearly shows that regional separations can influence politics and revolutionary loyalties. Lanza, distrusting the porteos of Buenos Aires as hypocrites and fools, explains to Baltasar Bustos that, "We're better off governing ourselves! Long live the Republic of the Inquisivi!"
Another aspect of the Latin American revolutionary period that Fuentes is careful not to overlook is the influence that foreign events had on the situation in the colonies. In a few passages during the book, he mentions Napoleon. Either his conquest of Spain or the Spanish uprising against Napoleonic rule in Spain, Fuentes makes sure that this important contributing factor is not forgotten. The events in mainland Spain in many ways had a cascade effect on the events in the colonies. Napoleon's advance into Spain helped allow for the revolution to occur, whereas the rebellion against his brother Joseph allowed for the restoration of the monarchy and a clampdown on revolutionary activity in the colonies. Fuentes gives an example of continental influence on the colonies when he writes, "It was a guerilla war: Baltasar went on repeating this newly coined term- recently arrived from the Spain that rose up against Napoleon" Finally, the leading historical figures of the Latin American revolution are included in The Campaign. This gives the book an added historical backdrop and realism that is not only relevant to the story, but also critically important for the readers understanding of the time period. Fuentes describes the roles of Bolivar, San Martin, and O'Higgins in their revolutionary context and has Baltasar Bustos interact with them in that respect. Although he is inserting the fictional Baltasar Bustos into a setting with real historical figures, Fuentes is careful not to degrade from the historical integrity of the book. In one passage, Bustos, after having fought in the Battle of Chacabuco, converses with San Martin over the losses inflicted during the battle. Although the conversation between the two is obviously fictional, it could very well have taken place with an actual lieutenant of San Martin's army. The facts and descriptions that Fuentes includes are not exaggerated and give the reader a better understanding of the experience of Baltasar Bustos and all the other, real, revolutionary soldiers.
In another passage Fuentes describes the overall situation of the campaigns against the Spanish. This time he includes Bolivar's efforts in his descriptions. He describes Spain's reconquest in the north and Bolivar's efforts to the contrary. He writes, "The revolution in the North was sustained only by the tenacity of Simn Bolivar" In this way Fuentes is able to include the realism
of the significant historical backdrop with the fictional plot of Baltasar Bustos.
The Campaign, by Carlos Fuentes, is more than just an entertaining story about a revolutionary named Baltasar Bustos. It is also an enlightening piece of historical fiction that gives the reader and in-depth look at the revolution in Latin America beginning in 1810. The detail with which Fuentes describes the time, location, and people of the story gives the book such a historical value that it might as well be a non-fiction textbook. In telling of the adventures of Baltasar Bustos, Fuentes touches on themes and ideas that were, in fact, of great importance during the time period. Now, they are important areas of research for anyone studying the revolutionary period. Themes like racial differences and hierarchies, differing ideas of independence, location differences and regional loyalties, overseas events as influencing factors, and important political and revolutionary figures are all aspects of Fuentes book. More importantly, they were all aspects of the revolution beginning in 1810. They were the ideas, problems, and people that the every Spanish colonial citizen had to deal with on a daily basis. The Campaign incorporated these historical realities into a fictional story of one man's growth and enlightenment. Baltasar Bustos became the average colonial citizen. As a Creole, the son a wealthy land-owner, and a Buenos Aires intellectual, Bustos' adventures and subsequent struggle with ideologies and loyalties became a symbolic conglomeration of many of the real struggles going on at the time. In effect, The Campaign puts historical events into a context more relatable to the average reader.
http://www.helium.com/items/540146-book-reviews-the-campaign-by-carlos-fuentes?page=1
Esses aspectos não são exclusivos das guerras de independência da América Espanhola, podendo ser extrapolados para outros contextos revolucionários.
<ref>{{cita web|url=http://www.helium.com/items/540146-book-reviews-the-campaign-by-carlos-fuentes?page=1|título=Book reviews: The campaign, by Carlos Fuentes|fechaacceso=21 de dezembro de 2010|autor=Andrew Horn|editorial=helium.com||idioma=inglês|cita=}}</ref>
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