A review by klaws500
The Underdogs: A Novel of the Mexican Revolution by Mariano Azuela

4.25

"Villa? Oregón? Carranza? What do I care?... I love the Revolution like I love the volcano that's erupting! The volcano because it's a volcano; the Revolution because it's the Revolution!" 

The Underdogs is a fantastic novel about a group of men (and some women) who find themselves swept up in the fighting during the Mexican Revolution. They go along fighting even though who they are fighting for changes many times and is often unclear. By the time the book ends they don't seem to really know why they are fighting at all, but they also don't seem to be able to stop. They can't really think of anything else to do.

Throughout the book they murder, rape, and pillage casually, as if it is the natural order of things. Becoming more and more cavalier, violent, and cruel as time goes on. They dehumanize the civilians they come across, and they find themselves dehumanized in turn. There are some really well developed themes on the effects of war on a people, both the innocent victims as well as the perpetrators. Highly recommend this Mexican classic.