Trujillo: The Death of the Goat

by Bernard Diederich

"A fascinating enquiry in depth into the background of Trujillo's murder - a natural for the biographer of that other monster of the Caribbean. Papa Doc. -- Graham Greene

Genres: History, Nonfiction

264 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[Randy Feliz]

Growing up in the Dominican Republic, the Trujillo era and his assassination are discussed in great detail. However, I loved how much detail was covered in this book around the plotting, the assassination attempt, and the aftermath of the events. From the very first page, I was glued to the story. If you're interested in Dominican history and interested in the events surrounding the death of Trujillo, give this book a read.

[David]

Death, death and more death. Diederich created a very insightful book in writing The Death of The Dictator, and his attention to details in times, places and names is an example of his journalistic ability. Trujillo was a madman, he was an unapologetic dictator who refused to bend for anyone, even in his death and assassination. The stories of the assassins were hell and in particular, Antonio De La Maza’s involvement from the day his brother was killed to the day he himself was killed after he took Trujillo’s life. Dominican history will forever be marked by Trujillo’s actions over the course of 30+ years, and this book did an exemplary job at showing how. The decades in which he ruled arguably still have lingering effects, and to know Diederich spoke with those involved firsthand is fascinating and evident in his writings. My only complaint was the focus on less than relevant details relating to the people involved. In some chapters, more plot and less unnecessary details on irrelevant people would’ve been better.

[Reid]

One of the most chilling books I've ever read and none of it fictional...

[Drew]

I’m surprised that this story, and this book specifically, are not more well known. Grippingly told. Gritty and intimate in detail. Ought to be a film.

[Josh Ricatti]

Gripping. Wonderfully written.

[Leah D]

Written really well for a history book published in the late seventies. The books reads as someone telling you the facts in story format and not so much in an elongated timeline format. 

[Fausto Betances]

This is a very intense compilation of the facts, and circumstances of one unbelievably cruel dictatorship and the conditions that helped perpetuate it. As a Dominican born after Trujillo's Era, I'm very glad and thankful that someone, in this case Mr. Diederich having been in such a prominent position as a reporter stationed in the Caribbean during the Trujillo's regime, decided to put together all the information he had access to. This book is an amazing source of information for those who wonder why such a cruel dictatorship lasted so long, and why so many atrocities went unpunished until after the death of the dictator.

[Jose]

Intersante para leer, no se que tal la historia y la verdad completa. Si se que hay algunos commentarios del Sr. Diederich no me gusto sobre la Cia. Y si se que Trujillo era malo pero de derecha si no era. No hay fotos en El libro ni la vida entera de tirano.Interesting read, not sure how accurate it is. I do know some of authors wording irked me. There are no pictures and complete life of the tyrant is not covered.He was a bad person yes but a Rightist no. Some anti-cia stuff in it but great play by play allegedly. Also you see how JFK didn't help Dominican republic same with Cuba.

[Jose]

Intersante para leer, no se que tal la historia y la verdad completa. Si se que hay algunos commentarios del Sr. Diederich no me gusto sobre la Cia. Y si se que Trujillo era malo pero de derecha si no era. No hay fotos en El libro ni la vida entera de tirano.Interesting read, not sure how accurate it is. I do know some of authors wording irked me. There are no pictures and complete life of the tyrant is not covered.He was a bad person yes but a Rightist no. Some anti-cia stuff in it but great play by play allegedly. Also you see how JFK didn't help Dominican republic same with Cuba.

[Ashish Ahsan]

Trujillo was perhaps the worst dictator in Latin America. Today's comparable will be just deposed Hasina of Bangladesh, or Kim or North Korea. He was assassinated on 30 May 1961 after a 30 years rule. This book is a surprisingly detailed account of the preparation, the kill, and the aftermath. The details are impressive. The assassination was successful, but the coup was not. As a result the book took the quality of a thriller where the kill was jut the pick point. Highly recommended for those interested in history and the workings of a tyranny.

[Rozanne]

I thought this was going to be a biography of Trujillo, but it's really more of a blow-by-blow account of the events that led up to his assassination.

[JC]

The more I learn about Trujillo - the less I like him (with apologies to Norm Macdonald).

[Mayra Cruz Ortega]

This was a very interesting book about a time of turmoil for Dominican Republic when their Generalisimo was assassinated. I could not put it down.