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This study analyzes the vision of Panamanian society reflected in the new historical novel produced between 1996 and 2014, focusing on two representative works: Manosanta (1996) by Rafael Ruiloba and La novela de Remón (2014) by Juan Antonio Gómez. Both novels are milestones in contemporary Panamanian narrative, as they reconstruct significant historical episodes and offer a critical reading of the social issues that have shaped the country’s development. The research is framed within the Latin American new historical novel, a genre characterized by rewriting history from alternative perspectives, questioning national identity, and challenging official discourses.The analysis examines social themes present in the novels, such as corruption, inequality, identity crises, and institutional distrust issues that remain relevant in Panamanian society. It also considers narrative strategies including fragmentation, multiplicity of voices, irony toward official discourses, and the fictionalization of historical figures, mechanisms that construct a critical vision of national history and position literature as a space of cultural resistance. The comparison between Manosanta and La novela de Remón highlights both similarities and differences: Ruiloba focuses on the social and political tensions of the late twentieth century, while Gómez revisits José Antonio Remón Cantera to question institutional power. Together, these works demonstrate how the new historical novel contributes to understanding national identity and collective memory in Panama.
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