About "Inti-Illimani: Storia e Mito," the Italian-language paperback book, authored by Quilapayun's Eduardo "mono" Carrasco.

By the time Carrasco's book was published, released, and available to read, the conflict within Inti-Illimani was beginning to show. However, the book closes, firmly, with the period of Inti-Illimani's return from Europe to South America and of re-locating back to their native Chile. In fact, what is happening within the story as the book closes, is that Inti-Illimani's oldest member, Ecuador-born Max Berru, has decided to retire and to let Inti-Illimani go on without him.

Quilapayun, and Carrasco, go back a long long time with Inti-Illimani; they are of the same nation and the same generation, and so the Allende tragedy and the Pinochet regime are essential events in one common history between them. This ends up being the focus of "Inti-Illimani, Storia e Mito." I may be mistaken here, but I believe that author Carrasco continues to live in Europe even after it is possible for him to travel to, even return to, Chile.

Some powerful passages in Carrasco's book are dedicated to descriptions and contributions by other Chileans, either in exile or who survived the Pinochet regime.

Italy was Inti-Illimani's home base for over fifteen years; and more particularly, Europe's considerable base of Inti-Illimani fans revolves around Italy, where there is even an Italian-language Yahoo.com forum devoted to the musical group. Carrasco's book most likely was published with this base of music lovers in mind. The decision to end the book before Horacio Salinas' departure from the original group, however, inevitably dates and limits this book.