The article recounts the atmosphere in Argentina during the military coup of 1976, characterized by uncertainty and terror. It references an incident where armed men from the military closed the Siglo XXI publishing house, reflecting the regime's crackdown on intellectual freedom and dissent. This period was marked by the disappearance of many individuals and the struggle for survival faced by those who chose to remain in Argentina under oppressive circumstances.

As a response to the persecution, many Argentine intellectuals, including writers, critics, artists, and educators, fled the country, finding refuge in various parts of the world such as Mexico, Spain, France, and Canada. Their exile was a means of escaping the immediate dangers of the dictatorship, but it also led to a sense of isolation and a struggle against the loss of cultural memory and identity. Nevertheless, the act of exile allowed them to continue creating and sharing their ideas in more conducive environments, preserving their voices and contributions to literature and culture.

The piece reflects on the duality of the exile experience, as while those who left managed to survive and continue their work, many of those who stayed faced dire consequences, with some disappearing altogether. This narrative underscores the resilience of intellectual and artistic communities in the face of state violence and the ongoing fight for freedom of expression, which remains a pertinent issue in discussions about Argentina's historical context and its implications in the present day.