The Time of the Hero

About the Category

Country of Origin

Mario Vargas Llosa published The Time of the Hero in 1963, and it has since become one of the more widely recognised works of literary fiction from Peru. The book's treatment of military school, masculinity, corruption, Peru accounts for much of its enduring reputation. Among its recognitions: ALA Notable Books 1963. With an editorial score of 38/100 drawn from 1 independent sources, the book occupies a well-documented position in the critical literature. Its recognition spans international prizes, "best of" lists, and academic surveys. What distinguishes The Time of the Hero is how it handles its central concerns — military school, masculinity, corruption, Peru — without reducing them to neat conclusions. The book invites close reading and holds up well to it. Mario Vargas Llosa's role in the literature of Peru is well established. The Time of the Hero can be read as both a standalone achievement and as part of a broader national literary conversation about identity, history, and the possibilities of narrative form.

About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 1 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.