The purpose of this article is to explore the representation of childhood in two Venezuelan novels: Prima Lejana (2010) by Federico Vegas, and Margarita Infanta (2010) by Francisco Suniaga. The key idea, explored by Maria Zambrano (2004) and Cristian Alvarez (2006) is the search for a “lost paradise”, an ideal space that can be evoked through literature, and which nurtured happiness during the early years of life. This work is part of wider research into narratives, essays, poetic and dramatic texts. The research focuses primarily on the memory of childhood, as autobiography, confession and testimony. The process involved in this kind of research brings with it a better understanding of the relationship between memory and national history, as well as the discourses aboutidentity, nationhood and citizenship that are constructed through literature.