Tres años de esclavitud entre los Patagones

Work and Scholarly Significance:
Three Years of Captivity Among the Patagones is an outstanding ethnological document that combines rigorous observation with the narrative fervor of an adventure story. It recounts the extraordinary experiences of Auguste Guinnard, a young French immigrant who, around 1850, lost his way in the Argentine Pampas and was captured by native tribes.

Condemned to a brutal form of slavery among the last nomadic tribes of Patagonia, Guinnard became an invaluable witness to scenes of both peace and violence. His account details the domestic customs of the tribes, as well as the recurring brutal raids (“malones”).

Historical Significance:
Guinnard’s compelling story remains one of the most vital and original sources for understanding a pivotal period in Argentine history—when European and Indigenous life philosophies clashed.

The New Edition:
This newly translated Spanish edition, based on the original French manuscript, includes comprehensive annotations and a foreword by Professor Jean-Paul Duviols. It contributes a significant scholarly resource suitable for courses dealing with indigenous issues and the history of the South American Pampas.