In the Auditorium of the Customs Brokers Center, Dr. Héctor Vidal Albarracín, now known as Jackie Vidal, presented this Wednesday (19.03.2025) his most recent work, In the abyss, a novel that invites us to reflect on the profound changes that both customs agents and the world as a whole are undergoing.
Recognized for his distinguished career as a lawyer and university professor of customs criminal law, Dr. Vidal Albarracín takes another step toward literature with this new work, opening a new chapter in his professional career and delving into this challenging but enriching field.
During the presentation, Vidal engaged in an interesting conversation with Mr. Carlos Canta Yoy, merging literature and life experience. Their conversation drew an analogy with Winston Churchill, who, in addition to his prominent political career, won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953, highlighting his capacity for reinvention and exploring different facets of life. Throughout the discussion, the evolution of Vidal's literary style was highlighted, as he has transitioned from more direct and straightforward novels to more intimate and profound works.
in his novel In the abyssVidal has achieved a radical transformation in her writing style, giving greater depth to her research and creating a more complex relationship between author, character, and reader. She explained that, over time, she has learned to involve the reader in the story, inviting them to identify with and reflect on the themes addressed. "Before, she told us stories through action; now she invites us to inhabit them, to feel them," Canta Yoy said.
The novel tells the story of Federico Méndez, a former stockbroker whose once successful life has descended into a labyrinth of loneliness and despair. In a crumbling world, the echoes of his past haunt him, trapping him between dark memories and the struggle to find his place in an overwhelming present. Each loss plunges him deeper into an existential abyss from which he doesn't know if he'll ever escape.
In this context, a key aspect of the discussion was the reflection on the novel's protagonist: a narcissistic broker obsessed with money and power. Vidal compared him to the figure of the "declarante" (declarer), created by Decree 70 of 2023, describing him as "an unregulated and improvised subject, simply authorized to perform customs clearance." He highlighted the similarities between the unregulated careers of both and how a lack of professional suitability can lead to negative consequences.
Finally, one of the most moving moments of the presentation was the inspirational message the author shared with his readers: "We can always be better. That's why, in each of my books, I leave a blank page, so the reader can write their own story and leave their mark on the world."
The event was attended by prominent members of the customs and academic world, such as Dr. Ricardo Xavier Basaldúa, Héctor Juárez Allende, Oscar Horacio Dhers, Enrique Loizzo, and Daniel Zarucki, among others, as well as family members and close friends of the author.
In the abyss, the 193-page novel published by Nexo Editor, promises to leave a mark on the literary world and become a source of reflection for all those who delve into its pages.
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