La sombra del Caudillo

La sombra del caudillo (1929), by Martín Luis Guzmán, is a novel that depicts the political corruption in Mexico during the 1920s. The term "caudillo" refers to a Latin American military dictator or a strongman leader who emerged in the early 19th century, following unstable political conditions and prolonged armed conflict. These leaders often relied on charisma, control over armed followers, and patronage to maintain power. It references the rebellion of Adolfo de la Huerta in 1923 and the death of General Francisco Serrano in 1927.

Guzmán, a novelist of the Mexican Revolution, served as a colonel under Pancho Villa. His experiences during this period informed his writing, including The Eagle and the Serpent and Memoirs of Pancho Villa. La sombra del caudillo is a significant work that offers insight into the political landscape of post-revolutionary Mexico.