Bolivar is a political biography of the Latin American leader Simon
Bolivar. It is a broad overview of his life, ideas and importance to
the history of Latin America, rather than a chronological narrative of
his life or a systematic history. As a result the reader unfamiliar
with Latin American history and geography may, like me, find it hard to
follow at times. (Some clearer maps and a chronology would have made a
great difference here.) Salcedo-Bastardo's feelings about Bolivar seem
to verge on the hagiographic at times, but I don't really know enough
to be able to judge his objectivity.
If nothing else, Bolivar: A Continent and its Destiny left me aware
how little I knew about Latin American history. There are probably
better books on the subject around, but this one's not bad.
April 1993
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