A novel by Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa, based on real historical events of the late 19th century in Brazil. The work tells the story of the Canudos Rebellion, a religious movement led by the charismatic preacher Antônio Conselheiro, which was brutally suppressed by government troops. The author masterfully depicts the social, political, and religious conflicts of that time, creating a grand tapestry of human destinies in an era of change.