{{infobox Book | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Novels or Wikipedia:WikiProject_Books -->

| name = Tortilla Curtain

| title_orig =

| translator =

| image = <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:BoyleTortillaCurtainUS.jpg|thumb|185px|Tortilla Curtain (US cover)]] -->

| image_caption = US edition cover

| author = [[T. C. Boyle]]

| cover_artist = [[Neil Stuart]]

| country = [[United States]]

| language = [[English language|English]]

| series =

| genre = [[Novel]]

| publisher = [[Viking Press]]

| release_date = 1995

| media_type = Print ([[Hardcover|Hardback]] & [[Paperback]])

| pages = 368 p. (first edition, hardback)

| isbn = ISBN 0-670-85604-5 (first edition, hardback)

| preceded_by = [[Without a Hero (stories)|Without a Hero]]

| followed_by = [[Riven Rock (novel)|Riven Rock]]

}}

'''''The Tortilla Curtain''''' (1995) is a novel by U.S. author [[T.C. Boyle]] about [[middle-class]] [[moral code|values]], [[illegal immigration]], [[xenophobia]], [[poverty]], and [[environmentalism|environmental destruction]]. Of the eleven novels Boyle has written so far, ''The Tortilla Curtain'' has turned out to be his most successful.{{Fact|date=May 2007}}

==Plot summary==

''The Tortilla Curtain'' is the story of two couples who have nothing in common except the fact that they live in the same area. Cándido (a divorcee) and América (a young woman) are two [[Mexico|Mexicans]] who have entered the United States illegally and who are dreaming of the good life in their own little house somewhere in California. Meanwhile, they are homeless and camping in the [[Topanga Canyon]] area of [[Los Angeles]], in the hills above [[Malibu, California|Malibu]]. Another couple, Delaney and Kyra Mossbacher, have also recently moved to Topanga, in order to be closer to nature yet be close enough to the city to enjoy those amenities. Kyra is a successful [[real estate|real estate agent]] while Delaney keeps house, looks after Kyra's son by her first marriage and writes a regular column for an [[environmentalism|environmentalist]] magazine.

The two couples' paths cross unexpectedly when Cándido is hit and injured by Delaney, who is driving his car along the [[suburb]]an roads near his home. For different reasons, each man prefers not to call the police or an ambulance, and Delaney soothes his conscience by giving Cándido "$20 blood money," explaining to Kyra that "He's a [[Mexico|Mexican]]." From that moment on, the lifes of the two couples are constantly influenced by the other's.

After the accident, Cándido's problems deepen. With América [[pregnancy|pregnant]], his [[shame]] at not being able to get a job and procure a home and food for his family increases, especially when América decides to find some illegal—and possibly dangerous—work herself. At one point in the novel, they are forced to go through the trash cans behind a [[convenience store]] so as not to [[starvation|starve]].

The Mossbachers are also having problems, though of an altogether different nature. Comfortably settled in their new home, they are faced with the cruelty of nature when one of their two pet dogs is killed by a [[coyote]]. In addition, the majority of inhabitants of their exclusive estate feel increasingly disturbed and threatened by the presence of—as they see it—potentially criminal, illegal aliens and vote for a wall to be built around the whole estate.

Cándido has a stroke of luck when he is given a free [[turkey (bird)|turkey]] at a grocery store by another customer, who has just received it through the store's [[Thanksgiving]] promotion. When Cándido starts roasting the bird back in their shelter, he inadvertently causes a [[fire]] which spreads so quickly that even the [[gated community]] the Mossbachers live in has to be evacuated.

In the midst of the escalating disasters, América gives birth to a daughter, whom she suspects might be blind. But the couple has no money to have little Socorro (Spanish: ''help'') examined by a doctor.

Time and again in the novel, however, it is hinted at that the real perpetrators can be found inside rather than outside the projected wall: well-to-do people insensitive to the plight of the have-nots; [[White Anglo-Saxon Protestant|WASP]] [[racism|racists]] afraid of being overrun by [[Latino]]s and of the end of [[white supremacy]]; business people employing illegal immigrants to maximise their own [[profit]] without caring for the welfare of those who work for them; and criminals posing as honourable members of society.

==Book information==

''Tortilla Curtain'' by T.C. Boyle

* [[Hardcover]] – ISBN 0-670-85604-5 (1995, First Edition)

* [[Hardcover]] – ISBN 1-56895-287-2 (1996, Large Type Edition)

* [[Paperback]] – ISBN 0-14-023828-X (1996)

==Similar and related works==

*In [[Bharati Mukherjee]]'s novel ''[[Jasmine (novel)|Jasmine]]'' ([[1989 in literature|1989]]), a young [[India]]n woman living as an illegal alien in the United States tries to make ends meet.

*American musical group [[Eddie From Ohio]]'s song "Cándido & América" is based on the novel.

* Cándido's name is a reference to [[Candide]].

==Film adaptation==

A script was completed by Dayan Ballweg in about 2003 and a planned film adaptation was announced at that time.<ref>[http://www.filmjerk.com/interviews/article.php?id_int=18 Film Jerk article]</ref> By early in 2007, stars [[Kevin Costner]], [[Meg Ryan]] were attached to the project. It has been slated for release in 2010.<ref>[http://www.hollywood.com/movie/Tortilla_Curtain/3461711 Hollywood.com]</ref><ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0420965/ IMDB]</ref>

As a novel frequently taught in high schools, many students have made short films based on the book. Several have been posted on such Internet sites as YouTube.

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==

*[http://home.arcor.de/tortillacurtain/index.htm The Tortilla Curtain Project - Excellent and concise source for information on "The Tortilla Curtain".]

*[http://www.weberberg.de/skool/tortilla-curtain.html A collection of the best online resources on "The Tortilla Curtain" for students and teachers.]

{{T. C. Boyle}}

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[[Category:1995 novels]]

[[Category:American novels]]

[[de:América]]