The Underdogs

By Mariano Azuela

The book tells us the story of peasant Demetrio Macías, who becomes the enemy of a local cacique in his town, and so has to abandon his family when the government soldiers come looking for him. He escapes to the mountains, and forms a group of rebels who support the Mexican Revolution.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wilder Publications, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 12, 2013
• ISBN: 9781627552295

Mariano Azuela

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The Underdogs

by Mariano Azuela

©2013 SMK Books

All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission except for brief quotations for review purposes only.

ISBN 13: 978-1-62755-229-5

Table of Contents

Part One

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

VIII

IX

X

XI

XII

XIII

XIV

XV

XVI

XVII

XVIII

XIX

XX

XXI

Part Two

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

VIII

IX

X

XI

XII

XIII

XIV

Part Three

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

Part One

"How beautiful the revolution! Solis said with deep feeling.

I

That’s no animal, I tell you! Listen to the dog barking! It must be a human being.

The woman stared into the darkness of the sierra.

What if they’re soldiers? said a man, who sat Indian-fashion, eating, a coarse earthenware plate in his right hand, three folded tortillas in the other.

The woman made no answer, all her senses directed outside the hut. The beat of horses’ hoofs rang in the quarry nearby. The dog barked again, louder and more angrily.

Well, Demetrio, I think you had better hide, all the same.

Stolidly, the man finished eating; next he reached for a cantaro and gulped down the water in it; then he stood up.

Your rifle is under the mat, she whispered.

A tallow candle illumined the small room. In one corner stood a plow, a yoke, a goad, and other agricultural implements. Ropes hung from the roof, securing an old adobe mold, used as a bed; on it a child slept, covered with gray rags.

Demetrio buckled his cartridge belt about his waist and picked up his rifle. He was tall and well built, with a sanguine face and beardless chin; he wore shirt and trousers of white cloth, a broad Mexican hat and leather sandals.

With slow, measured step, he left the room, vanishing into the impenetrable darkness of the night.

The dog, excited to the point of madness, had jumped over the corral fence.

Suddenly a shot rang out. The dog moaned, then barked no more. Some men on horseback rode up, shouting and sweating; two of them dismounted, while the other hung back to watch the horses.

Hey, there, woman: we want food! Give us eggs, milk, beans, anything you’ve got! We’re starving!

Curse the sierra! It would take the Devil himself not to lose his way!

Guess again, Sergeant! Even the Devil would go astray if he were as drunk as you are.

The first speaker wore chevrons on his arm, the other red stripes on his shoulders.

Whose place is this, old woman? Or is it an empty house? God’s truth, which is it?

Of course it’s not empty. How about the light and that child there? Look here, confound it, we want to eat, and damn quick tool Are you coming out or are we going to make you?

You swine! Both of you! You’ve gone and killed my dog, that’s what you’ve done! What harm did he ever do you? What did you have against him?

The woman reentered the house, dragging the dog behind her, very white and fat, with lifeless eyes and flabby body.

Look at those cheeks, Sergeant! Don’t get riled, light of my life: I swear I’ll turn your home into a dovecot, see?

By God! he said, breaking off into song:

"Don’t look so haughty, dear,

Banish all fears,

Kiss me and melt to me,

I’ll drink up your tears!"

His alcoholic tenor trailed off into the night.

Tell me what they call this ranch, woman? the sergeant asked.

Limon, the woman replied curtly, carrying wood to the fire and fanning the coals.

So we’re in Limon, eh, the famous Demetrio Macias’ country, eh? Do you hear that, Lieutenant? We’re in Limon.

Limon? What the hell do I care? If I’m bound for hell, Sergeant, I might as well go there now. I don’t mind, now that I’ve found as good a remount as this! Look at the cheeks on the darling, look at them! There’s a pair of ripe red apples for a fellow to bite into!

I’ll wager you know Macias the bandit, lady? I was in the pen with him at Escobedo, once.

Bring me a bottle of tequila, Sergeant: I’ve decided to spend the night with this charming lady.... What’s that? The colonel? ... Why in God’s name talk about the colonel now? He can go straight to hell, for all I care. 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 all night. Here, 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. Figure it out for yourself. I’m drunk, see: I’ve a bit of a load on and that’s why I’m kind of hoarse, you might call it. 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, see, dearie? Hey, Sergeant, where’s my bottle? Now, little girl, come here and pour yourself a drink. You won’t, eh? Aw, come on! Afraid of your—er—husband ... or whatever he is, huh? 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! Suddenly a white shadow loomed on the threshold.

Demetrio Macias! the sergeant cried as he stepped back in terror.

The lieutenant stood up, silent, cold and motionless as a statue.

Shoot them! the woman croaked.

Oh, come, you’ll surely spare us! I didn’t know you were there. I’ll always stand up for a brave man.

Demetrio stood his ground, looking them up and down, an insolent and disdainful smile wrinkling his face.

Yes, I not only respect brave men, but I like them. I’m proud and happy to call them friends. Here’s my hand on it: friend to friend. Then, after a pause: All right, Demetrio Macias, if you don’t want to shake hands, all right! But it’s because you don’t know me, that’s why, just because the first time you saw me I was doing this dog’s job. But look here, I ask you, what in God’s name can a man do when he’s poor and has a wife to support and kids? ... Right you are, Sergeant, let’s go: I’ve nothing but respect for the home of what I call a brave man, a real, honest, genuine man!

When they had gone, the woman drew close to Demetrio.

Holy Virgin, what agony! I suffered as though it was you they’d shot.

You go to father’s house, quick! Demetrio ordered. She wanted to hold him in her arms; she entreated, she wept. But he pushed away from her gently and, in a sullen voice, said, I’ve an idea the whole lot of them are coming.

Why didn’t you kill ‘em?

Their hour hasn’t struck yet.

They went out together; she bore the child in her arms. At the door, they separated, moving off in different directions.

The moon peopled the mountain with vague shadows. As he advanced at every turn of his way Demetrio could see the poignant, sharp silhouette of a woman pushing forward painfully, bearing a child in her arms.

When, after many hours of climbing, he gazed back, huge flames shot up from the depths of the canyon by the river. It was his house, blazing....

II

Everything was still swathed in shadows as Demetrio Macias began his descent to the bottom of the ravine. Between rocks striped with huge eroded cracks, and a squarely cut wall, with the river flowing below, a narrow ledge along the steep incline served as a mountain trail.

They’ll surely find me now and track us down like dogs, he mused. It’s a good thing they know nothing about the trails and paths up here.... But if they got someone from Moyahua to guide them ... He left the sinister thought unfinished. All the men from Limon or Santa Rosa or the other nearby ranches are on our side: they wouldn’t try to trail us. That cacique who’s chased and run me ragged over these hills, is at Mohayua now; he’d give his eyeteeth to see me dangling from a telegraph pole with my tongue hanging out of my mouth, purple and swollen....

At dawn, he approached the pit of the canyon. Here, he lay on the rocks and fell asleep.

The river crept along, murmuring as the waters rose and fell in small cascades. Birds sang lyrically from their hiding among the pitaya trees. The monotonous, eternal drone of insects filled the rocky solitude with mystery.

Demetrio awoke with a start. He waded the river, following its course which ran counter to the canyon; he climbed the crags laboriously as an ant, gripping root and rock with his hands, clutching every stone in the trail with his bare feet.

When he reached the summit, he glanced down to see the sun steeping the valley in a lake of gold. Near the canyon, enormous rocks loomed protrudent, like fantastic Negro skulls. The pitaya trees rose tenuous, tall, like the tapering, gnarled fingers of a giant; other trees of all sorts bowed their crests toward the pit of the abyss. Amid the stark rocks and dry branches, roses bloomed like a white offering to the sun as smoothly, suavely, it unraveled its golden threads, one by one, from rock to rock.

Demetrio stopped at the summit. Reaching backward, with his right arm he drew his horn which hung at his back, held it up to his thick lips, and, swelling his cheeks out, blew three loud blasts. From across the hill close by, three sharp whistles answered his signal.

In the distance, from a conical heap of reeds and dry straws, man after man emerged, one after the other, their legs and chests naked, lambent and dark as old bronze. They rushed forward to greet Demetrio, and stopped before him, askance.

They’ve burnt my house, he said.

A murmur of oaths, imprecations, and threats rose among them.

Demetrio let their anger run its course. Then he drew a bottle from under his shirt and took a deep swig; then he wiped the neck of the bottle with the back of his hand and passed it around. It passed from mouth to mouth; not a drop was left. The men passed their tongues greedily over their lips to recapture the tang of the liquor.

Glory be to God and by His Will, said Demetrio, "tonight or tomorrow at the latest we’ll meet the Federals. What do you say, boys, shall we let them find their way about these

Reviews for The Underdogs

[Evillasenoru · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This masterpiece of the Mexican Revolution recounts the life of Demetrio Macías as the leader of a group of revolutionary fighters. It describes his rise from being a simple highwayman to culminating as a general of a regiment. It showcases the passions, experiences, and disappointments of the people who accompanied him during that critical stage of the struggle for a better Mexico, of which many of those involved in the combat were often unaware. Additionally, it reveals the realization of why they fought, although not everyone was able to grasp this, and also shows how those who seemed most aware of the revolutionary ideals changed their opinions for their own benefit. (Translated from Spanish)

[Lizz Coral · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Mexican Historical Novel by Mario Azuela "Los de Abajo"
Mexican Revolution 1876 - 1911
A historical novel that is in a realistic style. I was caught up in learning about the way of life that my ancestors had during that revolutionary era. The vile manner in which they were treated by the federals (the government). The fierce struggle they had to defend their rights, the patriotic values, and sentiments towards our Nation, how women were treated in those times and the bravery they also showed. I spent time looking for the meaning of words that were used in that era (regionalisms), so with a dictionary in hand and fondly remembering my grandfather Gregorio Cortés Galarza since many of those colloquial words he used. ??‍? (Translated from Spanish)

[Marlene Estrada · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Simply beautiful. A moving portrait of a beautiful era in the history of Mexico, beautiful for being a part of the history built by the civilians, by the ones from below. (Translated from Spanish)

[paula1970 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This novel is not a historical novel, where you are given the context and the main milestones of the Mexican Revolution. It is rather a novel that seems to fit the naturalist genre that delves into a group of fighters and spans two years. Through these characters, it showcases the beginning, the peak, and the end of this movement, focusing its gaze on the day-to-day as if it were a series of photographs shown without idealization and quite acerbically, revealing how the sense of struggle crumbles. (Translated from Spanish)

[Betotlacuilo · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A journey into the military context and its abuses during the aftermath of the Mexican Revolution. A prayer from those who raise their voices, knowing that they may offer their lives in the attempt. (Translated from Spanish)

[Mate Aguado · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Mexican Revolution told by a Mexican who lived through the conflict, allowing us to understand the motivations of an oppressed class without labeling ourselves as left or right. (Translated from Spanish)

[MarissaAcevedo · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A perfect portrait of the Mexican Revolution and the leaders who ruled the mountains and ventured into surprise confrontations. It is the story of Demetrio Macías, recognized for his impeccable marksmanship, who would later become a general in the Jalisco and Zacatecas region. It showcases in its splendor the Mexican of that time and conditions, the ignorance, the yearning for revolution, and the shades of love that were also found along the way. The book is written in flawless prose and is also a true linguistic treasure. Highly recommended. (Translated from Spanish)

[MarioRomndelValle · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Essential work to understand what the mythical Mexican Revolution really was. (Translated from Spanish)

[Tavo9 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It is the rise and fall of a man who seeks to avenge the poor against the rich during the Mexican Revolution. Demetrio transforms from a humble peasant into a famous general; there are references to key moments of the revolution, such as the Aguascalientes Convention and the capture of Zacatecas. It could be the story of the protagonists of the armed movement disguised, not by chance are the films about Emiliano Zapata based on this novel. (Translated from Spanish)

[kristelh_15 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Underdogs is the story of the Mexican Revolution. The story was set in Mexico and tells the story of the revolution from the native of Mexico's perspective and the land that belonged to them and the peasants right to fight back against the oppressive Spanish conquerors. The nationality of the author is Mexican. Mariano Azuela Gonzalez was a Mexican author and a physician. According to Wikipedia, he is the first of the novelists of the Revolution and he influence author novelists of social protest. He actually was a part of the Mexican revolution. I felt that the fact that the author was a physician was evident in the book. He gave details of wounds, injuries and health care that might not otherwise been included in a story like this. The author actually participated in the revolution as a physician in the army of Pancho Villa. The book certainly presents the reality of war and revolution. Los de Abajo (the title) which means the lowest of low, can't get any lower. The purpose of a revolution is to reject the identity of the colonizer (or at least the Mexican revolution) which I think is different from the American revolution. The revolutionists in the US were part of the colonizers. To be the underdog made the revolution even more precarious. In the book, the author shows that Demetrio may care more about the revolution that he does his people and land, thus they march into towns destroying homes of the peasants, stealing from the peasants and engage in looting, drunkenness, debauchery. This behavior would certainly weakened the chances for success. The author received the Mexican National Prize for Literature in 1942 and in 1943 he became a founding member of Mexico's National College. The author received the Mexican National Prize of Arts and Sciences in 1949.

[Lorevelaz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It is a classic book that tells the story of a group of revolutionaries in Mexico, a true story that starkly shows what life was like for the peasants who fought for freedom, but also reveals how many of them did not share the same ideals.

In addition to how they looted people in the towns when they arrived in a new place, how they would steal women simply because they liked them.

It is sad and at the same time interesting because, after all, it is something real and that is real life, no matter how cruel it sounds. (Translated from Spanish)

[justagirlwithabook · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I had to read this one to teach it to sophomores for required reading in English. I was hoping for it to be good but it didn't turn out how I'd hoped. It was just alright. It definitely does provided a different perspective to the Mexican Revolution but I don't think I'll be rereading it.

[angelillo1510 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

As Octavio Paz says, no revolution in the world has succeeded in making the unprotected classes live better...
Those from below, a work in which the images of the Mexican revolution come to life. (Translated from Spanish)

[BeesIsrael · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The intimately human side of what was called the Mexican Revolution, the misery and poverty, but also the basest passions and envies, the interests, the ambitions. A faithful portrait of those who lived it firsthand. (Translated from Spanish)

[Hannaly Higuera · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the most symbolic novels that talks about the Mexican revolution. Very interesting, very real. Highly recommended, and to complement these texts, one should read "Tomochic" by Heriberto Frías, who lived through this massacre of the Tomochic people by order of Porfirio Díaz. In fact, if you investigate, you will discover why that massacre occurred, due to a painting that the Tomochic people believed was of the Virgin but was actually another famous painting. (Translated from Spanish)

[Jap · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A reading that immerses you in what happened during the Mexican Revolution. (Translated from Spanish)

[Arisbe · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A book to learn a little more about the Mexican Revolution. (Translated from Spanish)

[ReynaLoera · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Iconic book that was previously read as mandatory like many others, which indicates to me the regression in current education; the central theme of the revolution is somewhat softened by the author's moderate style. Advances and murders are a part of everyday life and accepted by everyone; it is a fragmented vision that evokes popular sentiment. From the beginning of the work, you realize that what the title evokes is not exactly what you imagined. It is a showcase of raw machismo in contrast to the various colors represented by the female characters in the work; they all go to war among the mountain nooks, “To those below!... To those below!” shouted the leader. (Translated from Spanish)

[Enrique B. · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Within the texts about the Mexican Revolution, "Los de abajo" deserves a special mention, as it is a faithful portrait of the turbulent situation in which Mexico found itself, just after the end of the first decade of the 20th century. (Translated from Spanish)

[encephalical · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Read the Sergio Waismam translation -- found things like "ya're" to be a bit awkward. Now I'm curious about the actual usage. Inspiring me to learn more of Mexico's history.

[mattries37315 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Anyone who has learned anything about the Mexican Revolution knows that it was a complicated era in that nation’s history that just seemed to continue without end. The Underdogs was the first novel about the conflict even as it continued to grind on and written by a former participant Mariano Azuela.

The majority of the narrative follows Demetrio Macias, who finds himself on the bad side of the local chief and is burned out of his home before feeling to the mountains. Gathering his friends, Macias begins battling the Federales becoming a local then regional military leader. Joining with a growing Villista army around Zacatecas, Macias and his men achieve a remarkable feat during the battle that leads to victory and a promotion of Macias to general. The main reason Macias journeys to Zacatecas is an idealistic Federales deserter, Luis Cervantes, who conveniences the leader to join the growing Villista force. But after the battle, both men become disillusioned with the overall Revolution leading to simply leaving—Cervantes—for the United States or just keep fighting until the odds become too much—Macias.

This relatively short, well-written, yet seemingly disjointed narrative is considered the greatest novel of the Mexican Revolution because of this final aspect. Although this was Azuela’s first novel, it reads very well—in translation—and gives someone not interested in history a little knowledge about the defining moment in Mexican history if only in a brief glimpse.

[dreesie-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An interesting novel that isn't completely novel-like, this would be such an interesting book to read in a class on Mexican history or literature.

Demetrio Macias, who becomes a general amongst the rebels, really joined because he had to. He would rather be at home on his farm with his wife and child. But he turns out to be a decent military leader. But with continual losses among the rebels, the constantly changing leadership, to looting of even the poor by his ill-disciplined troops (men just like him, for the most part), and the female hangers-on (often essentially kidnapped by the men)--he is losing control, and losing patience, and wondering what they are really hoping to accomplish.

[benkline · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

An interesting and very quick (three page chapters, three parts, a few pictures, each chapter page is a half-page, the parts have a blank page, about 10 chapters per part), and easy read. A few things are lost in the translation I do believe and get mixed up, and I'm not fantastic on Mexican geography (especially of the 1900s era) - so the directions/locations are a bit confusing but ultimately trivial as far as the novel goes. More of a character study of those fighting the Revolution in Mexico than a truer depiction of the war/Revolution (despite what the introduction by Ana Castillo would lead you to believe). The pacing due to the quick easy chapters makes things go briskly and things aren't given the full credence they deserve at times; be it for effect or just how it is. Enjoyable and probably more meaningful to those of the area/culture than myself, but still a good novel.

[sometimeunderwater · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyable, but bleak. Every character is selfish, most are greedy, and a few are just bloodythirsty thugs. There's no dignity to these fighters, and no ideals behind their killing. A tragic, unsympathetic book.

[soylentgreen23 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

If one were to forget the plot of this interminable book, one might well wonder what it is doing on the 1001 Books list; the prose is leaden - at least in my translation it was - and the machismo drips from every paragraph. What it does well is to show the tragedy of a revolution that eats itself, which in Mexico was surely the case. Otherwise - this was a real struggle to get through.

[fpdc_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book in the classic novel of the Mexican Revolution. Azuela was himself a physician with one of the factions in the revolution, and this book projects some of the hopes and disenchantments he may have experienced. Following the travels and actions of a small group of men, commanded by a Demetrio Macías, the book portraits a world of simple men animated by an ingenuous hope in a better and freer future, but also the progressive brutalization and anarchization of the struggle until their destruction in an unglorious final fight. A superb novel.

[paisley1_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

not great, but a classic.
points out the pointlessness and lack of justice in revolutionary violence. this is an important book in Mexican history but it is not "good."