The first serious biography of Francisco Solano López in English for decades, this richly researched book tells the dramatic story of Paraguay's most notorious ruler. Despite the heroic stature he gained after his death, López was a monumentally flawed leader who made the disastrous decisions in 1864 and 1865 to invade Brazil and Argentina, initiating the most devastating interstate conflict in South American history. Drawing on a trove of primary sources, James Schofield Saeger offers a critical analysis of Paraguayan politics and López's life and erratic rule in this meticulous study.

James Schofield Saeger is professor of history at Lehigh University.

Prologue
Chapter 1: Los López, Father and Son, Family and Nation
Chapter 2: Francisco Visits Europe and New Departures
Chapter 3: López's War: Diplomacy, Combat, and Honor
Chapter 4: López Invaded
Chapter 5: The Final Agonies
Chapter 6: The López Legacy