This has been a very successful book in Argentina, where the author is well known, and where it takes place, although it is hard to imagine that it will be read with anything equal to that enthusiasm here. The time is 1952, during the Peron regime, and the story deals with a prominent, decadent, amoral, incestuous and aristocratic family. Its members consist of book-collector Papa Pradere, cradle-snatching Mama Pradere, lukewarm revolutionary Brother Pradere, and frigid but willing Sister Pradere, Ines. They are all seen on a national holiday of the Peronistas, October 17th, when the servants take the day off while the family has to eat in the kitchen. During a revolutionary incident, Brother Pradere brings home a lower middle class boy (he lives in a suburban two family home) and houses him in the attic where he is joined by his sister Ines. One learns still another lesson of ignoblesse oblige--one often enjoys sleeping with people with whom one won't dine. It all ends very badly indeed for the Praderes-- who face social and political realities which have been confronted else-where for some time.