The Penguin History of Latin America

by Edwin Williamson

Book Overview

Now fully updated to 2009, this acclaimed history of Latin America tells its turbulent story from Columbus to Chavez. Beginning with the Spanish and Portugese conquests of the New World, it takes in centuries of upheaval, revolution and modernization up to the present day, looking in detail at Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Chile and Cuba, and gives an overview of the cultural developments that have made Latin America a source of fascination for the world. 'A first-rate work of history ... His cool, scholarly gaze and synthesizing intelligence demystify a part of the world peculiarly prone to myth-making ... This book covers an enormous amount of ground, geographically and culturally' Tony Gould, Independent on Sunday

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0141034750
• ISBN13: 9780141034751
• Release Date: February 2010
• Publisher: Penguin Books
• Length: 720 Pages
• Weight: 1.11 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.1" x 7.8"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

The Penguin History of Latin America

The book is well written for a history book. It is very easy to read.

Great Insight

Since the history of Latin America is so intriguing, I was expecting this book to be a bit more intriguing. It is a very broad-brush book; a little more anecdotal and personal stories could help flesh it out a bit. But it does give excellent insight and precise analysis into the how's and why's of why Latin America is the way it is today, and that has increased my understanding of the Latin culture tremendously.

Good stuff to read

I have been able to find this book only with you. I need it for my university exam. Very good organisation even it's a little bit expensive. Anyway for a ggod job I am ready to pay. thx & rgds FRank Brunone

Excellent Introduction to the Subject

As someone who always wondered about Latin American history - this book offered a superb introduction. It combines a broad sweep over the colonial period with briefer country-specific essays on the post-colonial histories of the the larger Latin Anerican nations. Reading it one gets a good sense of the common heritage of South America.

Exhaustive introduction to Latin America

This book is a testimony that Mr. Williamson can be rated as a top notch literary critic. He is also a good English Historian. So here you have it: he combines the sensibility and mastery of language of a man of letters with the rigor and deapth of knowledge of an academic Historian to give us an introduction to Latin America through her history. What results is a complete and readable synthesis of the main currents in Latin politics, economy, society and literature. Mr. Williamson's underlying thesis is that of the search of Latin American societies for Modernity defined as a democratic, liberal and self-conscious state of affairs. The history is therefore roller-coasterish. But then Mr. Williamson will make your ride enjoyable.