Arturo Belano

Arturo Belano is the first person narrator of the first novella within Cowboy Graves, “Cowboy Graves”. He has lived in Chile his entire life, but he “does not know whether [he] is Chilean or Mexican” and claims not to “care much either way” (3). When his mother decides to relocate the family to Mexico, Arturo is indifferent about the trip. They travel to Santiago to procure the proper documentation and board a flight to Mexico City. Their first attempt to leave the country is thwarted by government officials and they stay with Rebeca Vargas longer than intended. Before their ultimate departure, Arturo attempts to visit the poet Nicanor Perra, to say goodbye. He travels by bus and foot to a remote village and discovers that a guitar maker occupies the house that supposedly belongs to Parra. They share a glass of wine and discuss fathers and Chile.

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