SEM Literary Agency
Enzo Maqueira
argentina
(Buenos Aires, 1977) is one of the most incisive and representative voices in contemporary Argentine fiction. His work addresses the tensions of modern life—sexual diversity, polyamory, patterns of consumption, and a critical look at the vices and customs of the middle class—without making any concessions. This literary universe reached its zenith in *Electrónica*—often described as "the novel of a generation"—and continues to expand in works such as *Hágase usted mismo* and his most recent novel, *Higiene sexual del soltero*. His literary project has garnered both critical acclaim and international recognition. His work has transcended borders, having been translated into English, French, Italian, and Portuguese. He was a finalist for the prestigious Silverio Cañada Award at the *Semana Negra* festival in Gijón and a recipient of the Ricardo Rojas Prize from the City of Buenos Aires. Furthermore, Maqueira is an influential voice in public discourse, contributing regularly to widely-read media outlets such as *Clarín*, *Anfibia*, and *Vice*.
BIO
WORK
Higiene sexual del soltero
(Sexual hygiene for the single man)
Enzo Maqueira delves into the nuances that turn men into both perpetrators and victims of a system, while opening a door toward new ways of forming relationships in the 21st century.
What is a man? How do school, family, and one’s environment discipline a boy, transforming him into a machine programmed to dominate everything in his path? *Higiene sexual del soltero* (“Sexual Hygiene for the Bachelor”) unfolds like a diary, tracing Junior’s life from his entry into the formal education system to his struggle to break free from the constraints imposed by his gender. Along the way, we encounter religious upbringing, rivalries, the exercise of violence, the discovery of sex, love, a father’s silences, and a mother’s overprotection. This novel unveils the mysteries behind the construction of masculinity, while simultaneously adding layers of complexity to the sexuality of men.
This is the definitive novel of the semi-educated, university-educated Argentine middle class. Maqueira treats the idiosyncrasies of the middle class much as Puig once treated serialized pulp fiction—or as Juan Forn treated the obsessions of certain denizens of Buenos Aires. Yet, he goes much further. This is not merely a romance—a pulp-style love story—set among academics and university students at the turn of the 21st century; it is a mockery and a lethal critique.
In certain online circles and academic syllabi, there is talk of a new generation of Argentine writers—though people talk about them more than they actually read them. Among this throng of otherwise indistinguishable young scribes, Enzo Maqueira stands out above the rest.
Unlike many of his contemporaries, he knows how to write; more importantly, he possesses a gift essential to any self-respecting novelist: he knows both what to write about and how to go about it. *Electrónica* reveals him to be a voracious reader and a sharp-eyed observer, possessing an ear finely tuned to the mannerisms and traditions of a particular, currently fashionable social class.
Electrónica (Electronic)
