Book Description:
Since its U.S. debut a quarter-century ago, this brilliant text has set a new standard for historical scholarship of Latin America. It is also an outstanding political economy, a social and cultural narrative of the highest quality, and perhaps the finest description of primitive capital accumulation since Marx.
Rather than chronology, geography, or political successions, Eduardo Galeano has organized the various facets of Latin American history according to the patterns of five centuries of exploitation. Thus he is concerned with gold and silver, cacao and cotton, rubber and coffee, fruit, hides and wool, petroleum, iron, nickel, manganese, copper, aluminum ore, nitrates, and tin.
These are the veins which he traces through the body of the entire continent, up to the Rio Grande and throughout the Caribbean, and all the way to their open ends where they empty into the coffers of wealth in the United States and Europe.
Weaving fact and imagery into a rich tapestry, Galeano fuses scientific analysis with the passions of a plundered and suffering people. An immense gathering of materials is framed with a vigorous style that never falters in its command of themes. All readers interested in great historical, economic, political, and social writing will find a singular analytical achievement, and an overwhelming narrative that makes history speak, unforgettably.
Press reviews:
“This book is a monument in our Latin American history. It allows us to learn history, and we have to build on this history.”
— Hugo Chávez, as reported by the BBC
“A superbly written, excellently translated, and powerfully persuasive expose which all students of Latin American and U.S. history must read.”
— CHOICE, American Library Association
“I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Galeano’s vision is unswerving, surgical and yet immensely generous and humane. This book, written more than thirty years ago, contains profound lessons for contemporary India. Eduardo Galeano ought to be a household name in this country.”
— Arundhati Roy
"Una bomba literaria que muy probablemente Obama no ha leído, pero que -seamos justos- en efecto tendría que leer...Imaginemos la escena: acomodado en su asiento del Air Force One rumbo a Washington, Obama toma el libro que le obsequió Chávez y, más por aburrimiento que por curiosidad, lo hojea al desgaire, lee un par de párrafos y, como le ha ocurrido a miles, queda atrapado por la un tanto engañosa pero siempre inquietante narración de Galeano. Alguien tan sensible a las humillaciones sufridas por los afroamericanos podría descubrir en sus páginas más de una coincidencia con su educación radical, y sin duda le ayudaría a comprender mejor a quienes desconfían de Estados Unidos, incluso de esa parte de Estados Unidos que, escapando a los prejuicios, le permitió convertirse en presidente."
- Jorge Volpi, "El País", Spain
"Este libro supera todo lo que yo jamás he leído sobre el tema, y permanecerá a lo largo de los años venideros. Una obra maestra. "
- Carleton Beals, "Monthly Review", USA.
"Este reportaje-ensayo-mural-obra de artesanía admirable ensambla géneros que andaban dispersos: la historia económica, el relato vital.. "
- Hugo Neira, "Expreso", Perú.
"El mejor libro sobre nuestro maltratado continente."
- Hernán Invernizzi, "El Cronista Comercial",Argentina.
"Bienvenida sea esta historia de América Latina que recoge los hechos, tiene profundidad teórica y es sumamente legible. Un excelente trabajo. "
- Peter Roman, "Science and Society", USA.
"Este libro de Galeano es absolutamente imprescindible para todos los interesados en América Latina.
- "Deutsche Volkszeitung", Alemania Federal.
"Una contribución muy importante a la comprensión del pasado que alimenta un presente ambiguo e incierto. "
- Marcel Niedergang, "Le Monde", Francia.
"Un gran escritor y una gran obra, que hoy me parece más actual y necesaria que cuando apareció. "
- Jean Ziegler, "Afrique-Asie", Francia.
From the Back Cover:
This brilliant text set a new standard for historical scholarship of Latin America when first published. It is also an outstanding political economy, a social and cultural narrative of the highest quality, and perhaps the finest description of primitive capital accumulation since Marx. Rather than chronology, geography, or political successions, Eduardo Galeano has organized the various facets of Latin American history according to the patterns of five centuries of exploitation. Thus he is concerned with gold and silver, cacao and cotton, rubber and coffee, fruit, hides and wool, petroleum, iron, nickel, manganese, copper, aluminum ore, nitrates, and tin. These are the veins which he traces through the body of the entire continent, up to the Rio Grande and throughout the Caribbean, and all the way to their open ends where they empty into the coffers of wealth in the United States and Europe.Weaving fact and imagery into a rich tapestry, Galeano fuses scientific analysis with the passions of a plundered and suffering people. An immense gathering of materials is framed with a vigorous style that never falters in its command of themes. All readers interested in great historical, economic, political, and social writing will find a singular analytical achievement, and an overwhelming narrative that makes history speak, unforgettably.
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