THE TIME OF THE HERO by MARIO VARGAS LLOSA

 

THE TIME OF THE HERO
by MARIO VARGAS LLOSA

Translated by Lysander Kemp

"The Time of the Hero" by Mario Vargas Llosa is one of his most acclaimed and enduring novels.

Originally published in 1963 under the Spanish title La ciudad y los perros ("The City and the Dogs"), a large part of the story takes place at the Leoncio Prado Military Academy in Lima, the capital of Peru. The academy serves as a small-scale model of society, and the novel explores human and social relationships, corruption, and violence within a military setting.

If we imagine Latin American literature as a grand structure supported by four pillars, Mario Vargas Llosa (Peru) undoubtedly stands alongside other literary giants such as
Gabriel García Márquez (Colombia),
Jorge Luis Borges (Argentina), and
Pablo Neruda (Chile)
as one of its foundational figures.

The Swedish Academy awarded Vargas Llosa the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2010 for “his cartography of power structures and his trenchant images of the individual’s resistance, revolt, and defeat.” The committee praised his ability to weave complex narratives that examine society, politics, and human nature.

Vargas Llosa spent part of his life in the military and also served his country, Peru, as a politician. These experiences added depth and richness to this novel. In one passage, Lieutenant Gamboa reflects: “He would be a lieutenant for years and years. Unless, of course, he had political connections.” This line powerfully hints at how corruption affects both the military and politics, shaping the lives of those within it.

Each chapter of the book is like a piece of a puzzle, and the reader gets closer to completing the picture with every page. At times, the reader must mentally rearrange the pieces to fully understand the story. The novel follows the lives of several young men from different parts of Peru who enroll in the military academy because their parents believe it will “make them real men.”

Most of these boys come from rural areas, are of mixed ethnic backgrounds, and come from poor families. This belief—that military service makes boys into men—was also widespread in Iran and is still held by many to this day.

Upon arrival at the Leoncio Prado Military Academy, the cadets face an “initiation” process marked by harsh and humiliating rituals. These practices aim to prepare and condition the newcomers for a strict, hierarchical, and often brutal environment. One unique aspect of life in such all-male military settings is the use of nicknames—some meant to humiliate, others to praise. Even groups are given nicknames. For example, in this book, first-year students are called "dogs." In comparison, in Iran, they’re called “leftovers” or “scraps,” which is arguably a little less harsh.

The novel introduces many characters, but a few play central roles:

• Jaguar is a rebellious, aggressive youth who tries to dominate the group. Over time, events at the academy lead him to a transformation and greater self-awareness.

• Alberto, nicknamed the Poet, dreams of becoming a writer. He is rational and compassionate. His friend Arana’s fate pushes him to stand against the injustice and cruelty within the academy.

• Ricardo Arana, nicknamed the Slave, is a quiet, isolated boy who suffers bullying, insults, and threats, particularly from Jaguar and his gang. The way he is treated reflects the brutal reality of military life and the shifting nature of power.

• Lieutenant Gamboa is an honest and disciplined officer who genuinely wants to reform the academy and make it a true place of learning and development.

Although the story unfolds in an all-boys military setting, one female character, Teresa, plays a smaller but meaningful role in the lives of Ricardo, Alberto, and Jaguar.

Many forms of misconduct—especially gambling, alcohol use, and sneaking over the academy walls—are common among the students, seemingly unnoticed by the senior officers. However, the theft of the chemistry exam papers triggers a series of tragic events that drive the novel’s central conflict.

Thanks to talented translators like Abdollah Kowsari, the Iranian literary community is well-acquainted with the works of Vargas Llosa and other Latin American authors. One of Kowsari’s most notable translations is The Feast of the Goat, which tells the story of Dominican dictator Trujillo’s downfall.

Some Notes From Book

“We play the part of heroes because we're cowards, the part of saints because we're wicked: we play the killer's role because we're dying to murder our fellow man: we play at being because we're liars from the moment we're born.”

-JEAN-PAUL SARTRE

“His aunt Adelina had told him once, " the foxes in the Sechura Desert always howl like it demons at nightfall. " Do you know why? " To break the silence that terrified them." page13

" You should never leave your post except when you're dead." Page 21

"Neither am I. But you are a soldier here whether you like it or not. And the big thing in the army is to be real tough, to have guts, see what I mean? Screw them first before they screw you. There isn't any other way. I don't like to be screwed." page 23

“Don't you know a story? what if we get the poet here to tell us one of those stories that make your cock stand up? But that's horseshit, I can get a hard-on just by thinking about it, it's all a matter of will power.” page 34

“The cadets, squatting or sprawling, kept their eyes fixed on him: life or death depended on his commands.” page 50

“The voice of Capt. Garrido informed them that their civilian lives had ended for three years, that they would all be made into men, that they turn military spirit consisted of three simple things: Obedience, courage, and hard work.” page 50-1

"Cadets first, then dogs." page 113

“Almost all the soldiers are peasants. I don't think anybody from the coast world think of being a soldier.” page 173

“He'll be a lieutenant for years and years, Gamboa said to himself. But then he thought: Unless he's got political connections. Gamboa loved the military life for exactly the same reasons that the other hated it:  discipline,rank, field exercise.” page 180

“Everything's done half-way in Peru, and that's why everything goes wrong.” page 185

"Is he from the first company?" He asked.

"Yes captain." Pezoa said." The first section"

"what is his name?" Ricardo Arana, Captain." He hesitated for an instant, then added: They call him the Slave." Page 196

“I'm twenty years old. Don't let anyone tell me it is the most beautiful period of life.”  Paul Nizam

“The peasants are all hypocrites and sneaks, and Cava was all peasant that way. My brother always says if you want to know if someone's a peasant, p him in the eyes, you'll see he can't take it, he'll look away. page 232 .. they never stand up in front of you, they always do everything on the sly, behind your back.” page 234 “we don't want to wash your dirty linen in public.” page 248 “Alberto looked at the carpet again. "the death of cadet Arana wasn't an accident." he said. "They killed him. it was revenge, lieutenant." ... "They murdered him." he said " It was the circle. They hate him, the whole section hate him. They didn't have any reason to, he never made trouble for anybody, but they hate him because he didn't like wisecracks and fighting. they threw him crazy, they call it him all the time, and now they have murdered him." Page 287 “Women, they are different, they are smarter, they only fall in love when it suits them. If they figure their man isn't right for them, they fall out again and look for another one. And it doesn't bother them at all.” page 306 “I'm as interested in a promotion as you are, sir. I'll do all I can to get it. I don't want to be stuck here at the Academy any more than you do. I can't feel I am in the army when I'm bossing these kids around.” page 310 "we all believe in the regulation," captain said. " But you have to know how to interpret them. Above all, we soldiers have to be realists, we have to act according to the situation at hand. You can't make facts fit the rules, Gamboa. It's the other way around." The rules have to be adopted to fit the facts." The captain's hand made circles in the air; he clearly felt inspired. Otherwise, life would be impossible.” page 350 " you're not worried at all, are you? Because the colonel, the captain, everybody here, they are all like you, they're your accomplices, they're just a gang of bastards. They don't want anybody to talk about what happened. But I'm going to tell you the whole world what you killed the slave" page 359 “... in each lineage/ deterioration exercises its dominion.” CARLOS GERMAN BILLI page 379

“remember the advice I give you. "And from now on, remember that in the army you teach lessons to your subordinates, not your superiors." page 382 " Look, when an enemy lays down his arms and surrenders, a responsible soldier doesn't fire at him. Not only for moral reasons, for military reasons too: for economy. Even in war there shouldn't be any useless deaths.You understand what I mean. Go back to the academy, and from now on try to see to it that the death of Cadet Arena serves some use." Page 387

Colonel said ". Justice always triumphs sooner or later. It's sometimes inheren in the military system, as you've had opportunity to observe for yourself. Just consider, Cadet Fernandez.” page 395 "Nothing" Alberto said. "I don't like to remember the military academy." "why not?" "I was always getting punished. It wasn't exactly good fun." "The other day," she said, "My father asked me why they sent you to the academy?" "To make me behave," Alberto said." My father told me I could cut up with the priests but not with the military." "You father must be a heretic." Page 399

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