Tunnel to Canto Grande: The Story of the Most Daring Prison Escape in Latin American History Book

Tunnel to Canto Grande tells the dramatic story of how the Peruvian Tupac Amuru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA) tunneled into an "escape proof" penitentiary, Canto Grande, to free forty-eight political prisoners on July 9, 1990. The prisoners escaped through the tunnel without a single casualty and eluded the authorities. Because of their world-wide reputation as writers of testimony, the authors, Alegria and Flakoll, were invited by MRTA leaders to write the exclusive story of the escape. At no small risk to their own safety, they spent a week in the most hunted-for safehouse in Lima, Peru, interviewing the participants in the project and the escapees. The resulting narrative is filled with suspense, drama and humor.

"Translation of Fuga de Canto Grande. Records 1990 interviews conducted by authors with members of the Peruvian Movimiento Revolucionario Tâupac Amaru who had escaped from prison only weeks earlier. Skillful narration provides excellent historical background. Flakoll's translation is good, although at times a bit stiff. Dynamism of story makes for compelling reading"--Handbook of Latin American Studies, v. 58.