Which of the following works is set in the backdrop of the religious persecution in Mexico?

The correct option is The power and the glory.

Step-by-Step Explanation:

1. Historical Backdrop:
The Power and the Glory is a 1940 novel by the English author Graham Greene. The book is set in the Mexican state of Tabasco during the 1930s. This period in Mexican history was marked by intense anti-clerical campaigns and religious persecution, particularly under the local governor Tomás Garrido Canabal, who enforced draconian laws against the Catholic Church, closed churches, and forced priests to marry or face execution.

2. Core Plot:
The story follows an unnamed Catholic priest (often referred to as the "whisky priest") who is a fugitive in Tabasco. Despite his personal flaws, he risks his life to covertly perform sacraments and offer spiritual guidance to the faithful, serving as a direct representation of the underground struggle during this era of religious suppression.

3. Evaluation of Other Options:
- For Whom the Bell Tolls: Written by Ernest Hemingway, this novel is set during the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s.
- In Our Time: This is a collection of short stories by Ernest Hemingway, focusing primarily on the aftermath of World War I and life in the American Midwest.
Consequently, The Power and the Glory is the only work listed that is set against the backdrop of religious persecution in Mexico.