{"product_id":"the-underdogs-isbn-9780375759420","title":"The Underdogs","description":"Hailed as the greatest novel of the Mexican Revolution,\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Underdogs\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003erecounts the story of an illiterate but charismatic Indian peasant farmer’s part in the rebellion against Porfirio Díaz, and his subsequent loss of belief in the cause when the revolutionary alliance becomes factionalized. Azuela’s masterpiece is a timeless, authentic portrayal of peasant life, revolutionary zeal, and political disillusionment.“Mariano Azuela, more than any other novelist of the Mexican Revolution, lifts the  heavy stone of history to see what there is underneath it.”—\u003cb\u003eCarlos Fuentes (from the Foreword)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eBeth E. Jörgensen\u003c\/b\u003e is an associate professor of Spanish at the University of Rochester. She is the author of \u003ci\u003eThe Writings of Elena Poniatowska: Engaging Dialogues\u003c\/i\u003e, and articles on Poniatowska, Margo Glantz, and Benita Galeana.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eIlán Stavans\u003c\/b\u003e is a professor of Spanish at Amherst College and the author of \u003ci\u003eOn Borrowed Words: A Memoir of Language and The Hispanic Condition\u003c\/i\u003e, as well as the editor of \u003ci\u003eThe Oxford Book of Jewish Stories\u003c\/i\u003e. He has been a National Book Critics Circle Award nominee and the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship.I\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThat's no animal, I tell you! . . . Listen to Palomo barking! It must be a human being.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe woman stared into the darkness of the sierra.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"What if they're Federals?,\" said a man who sat squatting and eating, a coarse earthenware plate in his right hand, three folded tortillas in the other.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe woman made no answer; all her senses were directed outside the hut.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe beat of horses' hoofs rang in the quarry nearby. Palomo barked again, louder and more angrily.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Well, Demetrio, I think you had better hide, all the same.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eStolidly, the man finished eating; he reached for a water jug and gulped down the water in it. Then he stood up.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Your rifle is under the mat,\" she whispered.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA tallow candle illumined the small room. In one corner stood a plow, a yoke, a goad, and other agricultural implements. An old adobe mold hung by ropes from the roof and served as a bed; on it a child slept, covered with rags.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDemetrio buckled his cartridge belt about his waist and picked up his rifle. Tall and well built, with a sanguine, beardless face, he wore shirt and trousers of white cloth, a broad-brimmed straw hat, and leather sandals.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith slow, measured step, he left the room, vanishing into the impenetrable darkness of the night.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePalomo, excited to the point of fury, had jumped over the corral fence. Suddenly a shot rang out. The dog moaned, then barked no more.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMen on horseback rode up, shouting and swearing. Two of them dismounted, while the other hung back to watch the horses.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Hey, there, woman, we want food! Eggs, milk, beans, anything you've got! We're starving!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Damned sierra! It would take the Devil himself not to lose his way!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Sergeant, even the Devil would go astray if he were as drunk as you are.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOne of them wore chevrons on his shoulders, the other red stripes on his sleeves.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Whose place is this, old woman? . . . What the . . . Isn't anybody home?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"What about that light and that child there? Look here, woman, we want to eat, and damn quick, too! Are you coming out, or are we going to make you?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"You swine! You've gone and killed my dog! What harm did he ever do you? What did you have against him, poor little Palomo!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe woman reentered the house, dragging the dog behind her, very white and fat, with lifeless eyes and limp body.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Look at those cheeks, Sergeant! Don't get riled, light of my life: I swear I'll turn your home into a dovecote, see? But by God!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Don't look so haughty, dear, Banish all fear Look at me lovingly Light of my eyes.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe officer finished singing in his tipsy voice.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Tell me what they call this ranch, woman?\" the sergeant asked.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Lima,\" the woman replied curtly, carrying wood to the  fire and fanning the coals.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"So we're in Lima, eh, the famous Demetrio Macases country, eh? . . . Do you hear that, Lieutenant? We're in Lima.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Lima? What the hell do I care? If I'm bound for hell, Sergeant, I might as well go there now . . . now that I have such a good mount. Look at the cheeks on that darling, look at them! There's a pair of ripe red apples for a fellow to bite into!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I'll wager you know that bandit, lady. . . . I was in the pen with him at Escobedo.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Bring me a bottle of tequila, Sergeant; I've decided to spend the night with this little brunette. . . . What's that? The colonel? . . . Why talk about the colonel now? He can go straight to hell. And if he doesn't like it, it's all right with me. Come on, Sergeant, tell the corporal outside to unsaddle the horses and feed them. I'll stay here. Listen, my girl, you let the sergeant fry the eggs and warm up the tortillas; you come here to me. See this wallet full of nice new bills? They're all for you, darling. Sure, I want you to have them. Imagine! I'm drunk, see, a little, and that's why I'm kind of hoarse. . . . I left half my gullet down Guadalajara way, and I've been spitting the other half out all the way up here. Oh, well, who cares? But I want you to have that money. Hey, Sergeant, where's my bottle? Darling, you're awfully far away. Come closer and pour yourself a drink. You won't, eh? Afraid of your . . . er . . . husband . . . or whatever he is? Well, if he's skulking in some hole, you tell him to come out. What the hell do I care? I'm not scared of rats, see!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSuddenly a white shadow loomed on the dark threshold.Introduction by Ilan Stavans (quote)--Carlos Fuentes","brand":"Modern Library","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46302153408741,"sku":"NP9780375759420","price":18.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780375759420.jpg?v=1767741980","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/the-underdogs-isbn-9780375759420","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}