El Hermano

This is a new edition of Carmen Baca's prized novel about life in early twentieth century New Mexico. Between the World Wars in remote mountain hamlets and villages, the people's religious well-being is looked after by a Cofradía, a brotherhood, also known as Hermanos Penitentes for their austere rituals, some of which were done in secret.

El Hermano takes place during the forty days of Lent in 1928 as José and his cousins conspire to spy on one of the brotherhood's secret ceremonies to see what lies ahead for them as novices. José knows his time to join the cofradías (of which his father is Hermano Mayor) is near, but having seen Hermanos who appear to be in pain after a night spent at the morada, a meeting house and chapel, and having heard stories about those who even died in the past because of whatever went on within the sacred structure, his fear guides him to join his cousins in their clandestine scheme. Compounding José's internal conflict, certain New Mexican legends conspire against them all. La Muerte, Saint Death, warns José to leave his future unknown. A ball of fire thought to be a witch, la Llorona, the ghost of the Weeping Woman, and el Diablo, the Devil, challenge him to either dismiss or believe in the unbelievable as he embarks on his spiritual journey.