The Wrath of God
In 1859, a massive tidal wave causes extensive damage to the town of Iquique, Peru. Henning Dietzel, a Prussian who arrived from San Francisco several years ago to manage his many business affairs, helps victims suffering from the disaster. Dietzel owns the Hacienda Toledo, a plantation located in the Chiriaco Valley. His major competitor is Emiliano Cabrera, who owns the Hacienda Noyo in the Valley. Because Cabrera is unscrupulous, he uses crooked judges to buy out other plantation owners and causes problems for Dietzel. Dietzel is also faced with the corruption caused by the War of the Pacific between Peru and Chile. Chile initially wins the war, and its army forces many landowners to sell their lands to the Chilean government. Eventually, Chile is expelled from the country and civil war ensues in Peru. Dietzel must face these issues and many more as he tries to keep his plantation.
After reading Playing Chess with God, I looked forward to reading its sequel and was not disappointed. The adventures of Henning Dietzel continue with the primary locale remaining in Peru. After spending part of his life in South America, the author knows the customs, the people, and the politics of Peru during the 1800s. Because Henning is primarily a businessman, it is important not to get caught up in his business dealings, because they can be quite complicated, but remain with the storyline and follow his joys and hardships as he tries to outmaneuver his political and rival oppositions. An entertaining read; I recommend this book, at a minimum, to learn more about the history of Peru during this time period.