Lituma in the Andes

In his novel, Vargas Llosa delves into the depths of social tragedies that take on mythical dimensions through addition, accumulation, and imagination, where violence reigns supreme. His introduction with William Blake's quote from his book "The Ghost of Abel," "Cain's city was built with human blood, not the blood of oxen and goats," serves as a warning that the reader is on the cusp of a different kind of novel from Vargas Llosa's rich world, a world that has influenced generations of novelists with its captivating charm, its enduring capacity for renewal, its enchanting style, and its masterful narrative. The initial reference to Cain and Abel signifies that the killing that began with Cain's murder of his brother Abel will continue, active and renewed, at the hands of Cain's descendants, as the blood of the murdered grandfather Abel flows in his brother's progeny.