Gringos - by Charles Portis (Paperback)

About the Book

Jimmy Burns is living the expatriate life in Mexico, but his laid-back lifestyle is imposed upon by a 90-pound stalker called Louise, a sudden wave of "hippies" led by a murderous ex-con guru, and a group of archeologists illegally unearthing Mayan tombs.

Book Synopsis

A truly brilliant, wonderfully bizarre novel by one of our great American novelists, the author of the perennial bestseller True Grit

Jimmy Burns is an expatriate American living in Mexico who has an uncommonly astute eye for the absurd little details that comprise your average American.

For a time, Jimmy spent his days unearthing pre-Colombian artifacts. Now he makes a living doing small trucking jobs and helping out with the occasional missing person situation--whatever it takes to remain "the very picture of an American idler in Mexico, right down to the grass-green golfing trousers."

But when Jimmy's laid-back lifestyle is seriously imposed upon by a 90-pound stalker called Louise, a sudden wave of "hippies" (led by a murderous ex-con guru) in search of psychic happenings, and a group of archaeologists who are unearthing (illegally) Mayan tombs, his simple South-of-the-Border existence faces a clear and present danger.

"Gringos is Portis's subtlest, funniest, and most valuable novel for its depth of inarguable wisdom." --Wells Tower, GQ

Review Quotes

"An engine of pure delight."

--Robert Houston "New York Times"

"The double-talk of the cultists is expertly filtered through Portis's lean and muscular prose, and the plot's as tight as a blood-swollen tick. All in all, totally boss fiction."

-- "Kirkus"

About the Author

Charles Portis (1933-2020) is celebrated as one of America's most distinctive and original literary voices. Best known for his classic novel True Grit, Portis combined sharp wit, deadpan humor, and a keen eye for the absurdities of everyday life to create stories that are both timeless and deeply American. His novels--including Norwood, The Dog of the South, Gringos, and True Grit--have earned cult status for their offbeat characters, comic brilliance, and narrative charm.

Beyond fiction, Portis was an accomplished journalist and essayist, producing incisive reportage and cultural commentary that reveal his unmatched gift for observation and language. His collected nonfiction, short stories, and plays in Escape Velocity showcase the full range of his talent, from satirical humor to poignant reflections on American identity.

Portis's work continues to captivate readers who value originality, wit, and storytelling that transcends genre. Whether through his iconic Western or his eccentric road novels, Portis remains a writer whose voice is unmistakable and whose influence endures.