Nostromo is set in the South American country of Costaguana with a long history of tyranny, revolution and warfare. Costaguana has recently experienced a period of stability under the dictator Ribiera. Charles Gould is a native Costaguanero of English descent who owns an important silver-mining concession. He is tired of the political instability in Costaguana and its concomitant corruption, and uses his wealth to bring stability to the country after years of misrule and tyranny by self-serving dictators.