Page 79 is where she says Isaacs’ novel is “atypical” in its anti-mestizaje stance. On page 80 she says romance was used as a figure for national unity although not equality.
I do not think it is accurate to put a writer like Alencar in the same basket as Villaverde. Alencar (O Guaraní) talks about mythical mestizo beginnings — all that mestizaje is very l.i.t.e. and in the distant past.
Back to unity but not equality — is it even about unity? Does the effort to summon nostalgia really work for all?
Axé.
181 is where she talks about the mixed race classes rising in María.