 The novel 's narrative is divided into three distinct strands . One is centred on Urania Cabral , a fictional Dominican character ; another deals with the conspirators involved in Trujillo 's assassination ; and the third focuses on Trujillo himself . The novel alternates between these storylines , and also jumps back and forth from 1961 to 1996 , with frequent flashbacks to periods earlier in Trujillo 's regime . 
 The novel <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>narrative is divided into three distinct strands . One is centred on Urania Cabral , a fictional Dominican character ; another deals with the conspirators involved in Trujillo <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>assassination ; and the third focuses on Trujillo himself . The novel alternates between these storylines , and also <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>jumps</mark></a> back and forth from 1961 to 1996 , with frequent flashbacks to periods earlier in Trujillo <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>regime . 
The novel  narrative is divided into three distinct strands . One is centred on Urania Cabral , a fictional Dominican character ; anotha deals with the conspirators involved in Trujillo  assassination ; and da third focuses on Trujillo himself . The novel alternates between these storylines , and also jump bck and forth from 1961 to 1996 , with frequent flashbacks to periods earlier in Trujillo  regime .