Drawing on literary, historical and political documents, Kristal examines the fictional representation of the Indian in Peruvian narrative. He reconsiders a major but neglected period of literary production and provides a methodology for the study of literary themes that happen to be significant topics of debate or controversy in political arena.
Novels and short stories can reflect or react to views on the Indian expressed in political programs, literary salons and sociological treatises, but they can also become major factors in the development of political or sociological discourse on the Indian. Kristal demonstrates that the literary representation of the Indian is a complex urban phenomenon.