An analysis of the .

: After President Balta was killed, the Lima populace rose in a violent counter-rebellion.

: The Gutiérrez brothers (four colonels) led a coup to prevent civilian candidate Manuel Pardo from taking office.

: Three of the brothers were lynched by a mob; their bodies were hung from the towers of the Lima Cathedral and later burned. Themes and Structure

: The book is a "polyphonic chronicle," blending rigorous historical research with a personal, investigative narrative.

: It examines the role of the urban masses ( el populacho ) and the thin line between justice and collective savagery.

: The work consists of six chapters, a prologue, and an epílogo, totaling over 400 pages. Significance

💡 : The book is less a traditional history textbook and more a psychological and social autopsy of a moment where Peru's social order completely collapsed.