owes a lot to the Greeks. A myopic journalist who loses his glasses becomes a Tiresias of sorts. He's not a prophet, but a gatherer of information - the only character in the novel who has a shot of making sense of the economic, class, religious, and violent events that populate Vargas Llosa's text. Through him we have a fleeting glimpse of what actually happens - or will happen - at the war at the end of the world. Vargas Llosa, in conclusion, is himself a prophet. The journalist could be a stand-in for him. Both the novelist's and character's conclusions seem only too appropriate for our time. (less) This book is not for everyone. If you are easily offended, or your stomach is weak; you will not like this book. But, having said that, I can only describe this book as a masterpiece--that is not easily described. The War of the End of the World is a work of historical fiction, set among particular events that occurred in the very late nineteenth century in northeastern Brazil. Wikipedia provides a simplified background Here . This background is sketchy. But I have fou ...more ----------------------------- This book is not for everyone. If you are easily offended, or your stomach is weak; you will not like this book. But, having said that, I can only describe this book as a masterpiece--that is not easily described. The War of the End of the World is a work of historical fiction, set among particular