Mario Vargas Llosa’s “Death in the Andes” takes readers to a remote Andean village, where two Civil Guards investigate the disappearance of local laborers.
The story weaves through the harsh realities of life in the mountains, touching on ancient customs, political conflict, and the looming presence of a brutal guerrilla group.
The guards, Lituma and Tomasito, uncover layers of fear and violence as they navigate both the mysteries of the case and their own pasts.
Mario Vargas Llosa wrote “The Green House,” a novel that weaves together the lives of people connected to a remote brothel in the Peruvian jungle. It explores corruption, love, and the clash between traditional and modern ways of life.
The story moves between the desert town of Piura and the Amazon rainforest, with characters whose lives are shaped by ambition, trauma, and forbidden desires. At the heart of it all is the mysterious Green House, a place that ties their lives together in unexpected ways.
José María Arguedas wrote “Deep Rivers,” a novel that follows Ernesto, a boy navigating life in the Andes after being left at a boarding school.
Through Ernesto’s experiences, the story portrays the harsh realities of rural Peru, the deep spiritual connection between the people and their land, and the divisions between indigenous and colonial cultures.
Arguedas brings to life the traditions, songs, and struggles of the Andean community through Ernesto’s longing to understand where he belongs.
“The Fox From Up Above and the Fox From Down Below” by José María Arguedas is set in the Peruvian port city of Chimbote, showing a place in complete chaos as it grows rapidly with no order.
The story follows two foxes, representing myth and reality, and weaves together traditional Andean culture with the gritty struggles of urban life.
The book explores the lives of fishmeal factory workers, prostitutes, and migrants, capturing the clash between modernity and tradition in a place full of contradictions.
Manuel Scorza wrote “Drums for Rancas,” a novel set in the Peruvian Andes during the mid-20th century. The story focuses on the struggles of a rural community facing the oppression of a powerful mining company.
Through the eyes of a villager named Héctor, the book explores how the clash between tradition and corporate greed fractures the lives of the locals.
The landscape and culture of the region play an important role, with vivid depictions of the natural environment and the traditions of the Andean people.
Alfredo Bryce wrote “A World for Julius,” a story about a young boy growing up in a wealthy yet crumbling family in mid-20th century Lima.
Julius is surrounded by privilege, but through his eyes, we see the sharp contrast between the lives of the rich and the people who serve them. The book explores his innocent perspective as he begins to notice the inequalities and hypocrisies in the world around him.
The novel “The Blue Hour” by Alonso Cueto tells the story of Adrián Ormache, a successful lawyer in Lima who uncovers shocking truths about his late father’s role during Peru’s civil war.
As Adrián investigates, he discovers the connection between his father and a captive woman from the war, which leads him into a journey of guilt, redemption, and the scars left by violence. The book explores the impact of personal and national history on identity and family.
The book “The Bridge of San Luis Rey” by Thornton Wilder begins with the collapse of a bridge in 18th-century Peru, which sends five people to their deaths.
A priest, Father Juniper, investigates the lives of the victims to find out if there was a divine purpose behind the tragedy. The story weaves through their experiences and connections, showing how their paths led them to that fateful moment.
“The Dancer Upstairs” by Nicholas Shakespeare is set in a turbulent Peru during the 1980s. It follows a police officer who is tracking a mysterious revolutionary leader.
As the investigation unfolds, the officer becomes entangled with a young dancer and discovers secrets that blur the line between justice and personal desires.
The story captures the tension of a society on the brink, offering a glimpse into the challenges of loyalty and morality in times of chaos.