Roa Bastos' first published novel, Hijo de Hombre represents his definitive break with poetry.

[2] This novel draws upon a system of Christian metaphors as part of the neo-Baroque concept of magic realism to examine the pain of being Paraguayan.

[4] Jara, on the other hand, is an uneducated “son of man” who becomes a Christ-like leader for Paraguayan people through action and strength of character and will lead them to salvation.

Although it was a massive critical success, Roa Bastos remained quite dissatisfied with the work for a number reasons.

It was originally published in Spanish under the title Hijo de Hombre, copyright 1961 by Editorial Losado, S.A., Buenos Aires."