signed-firsts
The Time of the Hero (1962/1966) Signed First Edition Reference
La ciudad y los perros (Seix Barral, Barcelona, 1962; English: Grove Press, 1966, as The Time of the Hero) is Vargas Llosa’s debut novel, set in the Leoncio Prado Military Academy in Lima. The novel’s unflinching depiction of violence, homosexuality, and corruption within the military led to copies being ceremonially burned at the academy. The book won the Premio Biblioteca Breve and established Vargas Llosa as a major literary talent.
Signed Copy Market Values
- Signed Spanish first (Seix Barral): $200–$600
- Signed English first (Grove): $100–$300
- Unsigned English first: $30–$75
The Vargas Llosa debut — a book whose public burning was the most effective promotional event in Latin American literary history.