The Epic of Latin America, Fourth Edition

by John Armstrong Crow

Book Overview

Uniquely comprehensive and comparative, praised for its devotion to social and cultural developments as well as politics and economics, The Epic of Latin America is once again revised and brought up to date, with chapters on the great upheavals of the 1980s. The book received the Gold Medal of the Commonwealth Club of California for outstanding literary achievement by a California author and was selected by the American Library Association...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0520077237
• ISBN13: 9780520077232
• Release Date: February 1992
• Publisher: University of California Press
• Length: 992 Pages
• Weight: 2.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 2.2" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

The Epic of Latin America - John A. Crow

I highly recommend this book for folks traveling to Latin America on business or pleasure. Your visit will be warmly enriched as a result, and you'll be more empathetic to cultural differences, understanding that the economic, religious, and political circumstances of Latin America today were not created in a vacuum, but rather are the consequences of deep-seated historical events which began in the times of the "Conquista" and their search for the "El Dorado".

great book

I have read this book many times. It was my reference bibile as i majored in Latin American Studies. Although long it is an easy read. Crow does what many other authors fail to accomplish, he maintains his objectivity. It is a good book for non-Latin Americans to gain insight into Latin America. Great book, dedicate a summer to it.

one of the most thorough general histories available

Unlike Cookie 65, I don't want fast-food history, and Crow's wealth of details in this general history of Latin America is greatly appreciated. Crow gives us all the details in a very well-written fashion, because history is IN the details! The Skidmore/Smith book cookie 65 mentions is also a nice introductory volume on Latin America, very suited towards undergraduates. However, the Crow book has a greater richness of detail that will serve both the history buff and the student and/or business person seeking greater understanding of this important regional neighborhood. Highly recommended.

As 919-page history books go, this one is very readable!

Generally, this is a very comprehensive and enjoyable summary of Latin American history, starting with the Mayas, the Incas and the Aztecs. It provides particularly helpful insight on the development of government and cultural traditions. The first two hundred years of history following the European arrival in the Americas is particularly enjoyable reading, because of the storytelling style. The 19th century and 20th century history is a little tougher sledding, at times a little disjointed and perhaps long on opinion. I would have also expected more coverage on the Caribbean, especially Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. That said, this was a good read from the perspective of someone who frequently doesn't enjoy history books.

A treasure in the piles of books out there

Crow's text is a delightful romp through Latin American history. He challenges the historiography of the imperialist and the "advanced cultures" of the pre-conquest era. His sources are thorough and yet he writes precisely and without pretention. A must read.