Artemio Cruz

Artemio Cruz is an avaricious man who believes that might makes right. He has no twinge of conscience when he destroys honest men or sells natural resources, squandering the next generation's inheritance, to buy meaningless baubles for his wife and daughter. In fact, there are no honest men in the novel, except for those who died as young revolutionaries. There are only men who are less accomplished at corruption than Cruz is.

As an idealistic young revolutionary, Cruz dreams of improving life for all Mexican people. He kidnaps and rapes a young woman, which is considered normal behavior for the time and place. Yet, when Cruz is captured and faces death, he unhesitatingly betrays his comrades. Without a second thought, he leverages the death of his brave companion, Gonzolo Bernal, to gain access to the family. Cruz uses blackmail to coerce a marriage with Catalina, inheriting all...