A Manual for Manuel is at once an example of socially committed writing and avant-garde experimentation, and as such is much more than its title indicates. Two members of the terrorist group, Susanna and Patricio have an infant named Manuel. As a way of preserving the "true" history surrounding his heritage, the group makes him a scrapbook made up of the very same news articles that appear throughout the novel. It is hoped that by being exposed to such a book, Manuel might develop into a socially aware and committed adult. What the scrapbook is to Manuel, Cortazar's novel is to the reader. A Manual for Manuel was written for the adult literary population, many of whom are searching like Andres (and Cortazar) for the truth, so that they might respond honestly and honorably to the historical circumstances surrounding them. Written in the tradition of avant-garde...