Editorial Review

The tortured history of Afghanistan is illuminatingly outlined by Barnett S. Rubin, an American academic and human rights monitor in the region. In the 19th century, the country successfully resisted colonial rule, becoming a buffer between the imperial superpowers, Britain and Russia. That dangerous position resulted in an isolation that held back modernization and the emergence of a modern central government. In this century, the Soviet Union and the United States maintained the status quo up until the early seventies, when a communist coup heralded massive outside intervention. The country was ripe for a disastrous fragmentation. This scholarly study is complemented by a sequel: Read more

Reviews (5)

The Fragmentation of Afghanistan: State Formation and Collapse in the International System
This book is excellent.It describes in great detail how Great Britain, Russia, Th U.S. and now Pakistan have contributed to the destruction of the basic fiber of the country and the reasons this happened.

Fragmentation of Afganistan
I received two copiesof book and returned one. I did enjoy the book very much.

very detailed and well researched, but a tough read
Barry Rubin's account of the fragmentation of Afghanistan and the failure of the state is a very detailed in-depth account of the different parties involved, and the cobweb of international and national actors. I especially appreciated the new post September 11 preface to the second edition. It is a great book for the academic or those looking for a serious book on Afghanistan, however I would not recommend it for someone with little knowledge of the region and its and religous political struggles. Without an understanding of the region, the reader is not likely to get past the first chapter. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Afghanistan    2. Asia - General    3. Current Affairs    4. Government - Comparative    5. History    6. History: World    7. International    8. Middle East - History    9. Peacekeeping/Occupation Forces    10. Political    11. Political History    12. Politics / Current Events    13. Soviet occupation, 1979-1989    14. Asian / Middle Eastern history: postwar, from c 1945 -    15. Civil war    16. History / General    17. International relations    18. Postwar period, 1945 to c 2000    19. Revolutions & coups    20. Terrorism, freedom fighters, armed struggle   

Editorial Review

Political commentator Kevin Phillips (author of the 1991 bestseller Read more

Reviews (23)

The hidden reality in the story
While this book weaves a dramatic tapestry from 1640 t0 1900 and puts Puritan religion at the center of the development of democratic republican government, its hidden lesson is the existence, since well before the Founders, of a virulent anti Catholic sentiment throughout America.In Phillips' narrative the Catholics appear on the wrong side of every issue. Clearly standing with Charles and the Cavaliers against Parliament. Partaking of a massacre in Ireland of Protestants colonists, leading to Cromwell's terrorist response. A response which Phillips seems to , at least, understand.
Obstacles Of Phillips
Mr. Phillips presents a plethora of writing that gives intelligence to any reader.
Phillips usual garbage
If you have read evene a few pages of any book by thix Nixonite, then you hve tapped into the best that he has to offer (not much!)Read more

Subjects:  1. History - Military / War    2. History: World    3. Military - General    4. Revolutionary    5. United States - Revolutionary War    6. American history    7. Civil war    8. Cultural studies    9. International relations    10. USA    11. United Kingdom, Great Britain   

Reviews (4)

A very accessible book
Regan's book writes in a style that is easy to understand and even fun to read.This was the first book I read dealing with the Byzantine Empire, it was good enough to warrant a topic switch in my major from Medieval studies, to Byzantine studies.Regan's book makes a clear cut and convincing case for emperor Heraclius of Byzantium, as the First Crusader.Though the book does not contain enough detail for my taste, it was still acaptivating and informative read. This should be considered an informative introductory to the study of the Byzantine Empire.

A little more detail would have made it a good one
Geoffrey Regan's books are entertaining. Read his Military blunders 1&2, which by the way were much better books than this one. He wishes to elaborate on the first true crusader, Heraclius but starts off with his typical satire, related to the times of Constantine's father and the birth of Byzantium. The early history of Byzantium was unnecessary. He could have written more on Heraclius himself. The lack of description of key battles and undertakings do not do justice to a man who deserves more. There are a couple of interesting pictures. On the good aspect of the book. One gets to read a bit of interesting history and legends. The author uses good judgement to question the authenticity of the True Cross and the Holy Sepulchre. Overall i'd say its a good book to keep but i wont recommend buying the hardback version.

A fresh look at some little-known history
This book reminds us that Christian crusades to liberate Jerusalem's holy places long predate the so-called First Crusade of the eleventh century.More than four hundred years earlier, the Byzantine Empire used Christian themes in its struggles against threats from the East.Regan is particularly effective in describing the campaigns of the Byzantine emperor Heraclius, who regained Jerusalem from the Persians.Regan follows the story through the era of Islamic expansion, the Turkish conquests, and the first Western Crusade.Among other things, readers will discover the original Church of the Holy Sepulcher built by Constantine, much more impressive than the current version.Like the Jewish Temple, it was destroyed by invaders.The book, written in an accessible style, includes black and white photographs and some basic maps. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 527-1081    2. Ancient - General    3. Byzantine Empire    4. Christianity - General    5. Crusades    6. Emperor of the East,    7. Heraclius,    8. History    9. History - General History    10. History: World    11. Religion    12. Revolutionary    13. ca. 575-641    14. Religion / Christianity   

Subjects:  1. 1993-    2. Arab-Israeli conflict    3. General    4. International Relations - General    5. Palestinian Arabs    6. Political Freedom & Security - Terrorism    7. Political History    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics and government    10. Social Science    11. Sociology    12. Area / regional studies    13. Islamic studies    14. Middle East    15. Political science & theory    16. Revolutions & coups    17. Social Science / General   

Reviews (12)

Factual errors are inexcusable!
This book is apparently not well researched and has at least three errors so far and I am not a fifth finished with it.
Written very simply...
This book is a good starter on the life of Lafayette. It's quite heavy on information, and delves into the great relationship he had with General Washington. But the book seems to be written at a level most people should've eclipsed by the time they left high school. We must be told over and over, in flowery language, many of Lafayette's attributes or how he was thought of by Americans. Going over it once or twice is enough, because if you believe the man is great (and I agree w/Unger) then it doesn't need to be boosted up like the authors seemingly does. A good book, but it could be better.....

Le Marquis est magnifique!
Recently completed this very well researched and well presented biography!The book is easiliy readable, but not simplistic, detailing many aspects of both the American and French Revolutions, and the Marquis de Lafayette's involvement in both.
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Subjects:  1. 1757-1834    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. France    7. Generals    8. Historical - General    9. Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Y    10. Presidents & Heads of State    11. Revolutionary    12. Statesmen    13. United States    14. marquis de,    15. Biography & Autobiography / Historical    16. Biography: general    17. Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier   

Reviews (1)

Pathbreaking work on race and revolution
Insurgent Cuba tracks the transformation of racial and gendered narratives of the revolution from the abolition of slavery to the war of independence.In this fascinating and pathbreaking book, Professor Ferrer reveals that,with the emergence of late 19th century Cuban nationalism, narratives ofrace, slavery, and the place of black people in the revolution shiftdramatically. Through the voices of leaders like Jose Marti, blackinsurgents were constructed as color-blind patriots committed to theliberation of Cuba, not slaves and ex-slaves attempting to overthrow theregime of slavery and demand equal rights.Black people were transformedin these three decades from a problem and threat to the republic to thesymbols of Cuban nationalism's commitment to multiracial democracy.Anti-racism became a weapon in the hands of Cuban revolutionaries in theirbattle against Spain, which changed the status of black insurgents, putthem on a pedestal in a way, and made their stories fundamental to thenarrative of the new republic--one that is colorblind and willing toincorporate everyone as long as they are patriots. For blacks andmulattoes, this discourse gave them a platform to complain about racism inthe ranks of the army, in everyday life, everywhere.On the other hand,the ellision of racism in the discourse of Cuban nationalism and thecelebration of multiracial republicanism was often used against critics ofracism in Cuba."To speak of race, then," Ferrer writes, "was to challengethe depth of racial and national unity."Any attempts to mobilize on thebasis of racial solidarity was then dismissed as divisive and unpatriotic.By reconstructing these different narratives in the context of specificrevolts and campaigns, Ferrer offers us a stunning alternative narrative ofthe struggle for Cuban Independence.Insurgent Cuba is perhaps the bestbook available on race and Cuba. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1878-1895    2. 19th century    3. Blacks    4. Caribbean & West Indies - General    5. Cuba    6. Discrimination & Racism    7. Ethnic Studies - General    8. History    9. History - General History    10. History: World    11. Insurrection, 1868-1878    12. Politics and government    13. Racism    14. Revolution, 1895-1898    15. History / Caribbean & West Indies    16. History of other lands    17. Racism & racial discrimination    18. Revolutions & coups    19. Social history    20. c 1800 to c 1900    21. nineteenth century; racism; imperial expansion; Spain; black; white; mulatto; segregation; United States; nationalism; Cuba   

Editorial Review

Esteemed historian David McCullough covers the military side of the momentous year of 1776 with characteristic insight and a gripping narrative, adding new scholarship and a fresh perspective to the beginning of the American Revolution. It was a turbulent and confusing time. As British and American politicians struggled to reach a compromise, events on the ground escalated until war was inevitable. McCullough writes vividly about the dismal conditions that troops on both sides had to endure, including an unusually harsh winter, and the role that luck and the whims of the weather played in helping the colonial forces hold off the world's greatest army. He also effectively explores the importance of motivation and troop morale--a tie was as good as a win to the Americans, while anything short of overwhelming victory was disheartening to the British, who expected a swift end to the war. The redcoat retreat from Boston, for example, was particularly humiliating for the British, while the minor American victory at Trenton was magnified despite its limited strategic importance. Read more

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Reviews (493)

Great Book!!
This book is great! He does a wonderful job of explaining what the early days of the war was like and the state of the colonial army was like. I never really understood how huge the odds against us where until now. The book does a great job at introducing you to Washington, his struggles and the struggles of the nation during this year.

The greastest country ever, how it became.
David McCullough's book, though not thorough in introducing the reader to all the twists and turns of our nation's early history, does an excellent job in introducing George Washington, King George of England and the daunting task that Washington had in trying to hold a truly "rag tag" army together while the British tried to vanquish the Revolutionaries in the Colonies.
I Wonder How It Ends?
Books on history can often be a hard sell to both publishers and readers. The rehashing of old material gets, well, old. You either have to come up with an obscure piece of history that few know about but is engaging, or you have to recreate a larger section that is known by many and give some new tidbits.
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Subjects:  1. History    2. History - U.S.    3. History: World    4. Revolutionary    5. United States - Revolutionary War   

Subjects:  1. 1985-1991    2. Economic Conditions    3. Ethnic relations    4. History & Theory - General    5. Nationalism    6. Political Ideologies - Nationalism    7. Political Science    8. Political aspects    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Politics and government    11. Politics/International Relations    12. Post-Communism    13. Soviet Union    14. Former Soviet Union, USSR (Europe)    15. Political Science / General    16. Political economy    17. Revolutions & coups    18. Sociology, Social Studies    19. Soviet Union--Politics and government--1985-1991   

Reviews (17)

my two sense
I too feel compelled to write upon reading a prior review which said "The Turkish government used its right to get in and saved the lives of thousands of Turks out there. Why did they only took one third of the island? Because at that time the Turk population was the one third of the population of Cyprus. What do you expect?"
This must be a great book. Here is what I remember from those days
Sorry,I have not read this book yet,I certainlly will. As someone serving in the Greek military the days of the invasion I would like to point the following. It was well known in Greece that when "Atila" starting rolling on the island many fleeing Greek Cypriots gave the keys of their houses for safe keeping to ***their Turkish Cypriot neighbors***. I think this speaks volumes. It was talked about in our army that the pupet of the US inspired regime in Athens Mr Sampson, who had led the coup against Makarios that meant to anex Cyprus to the dictatorship in Greece had gathered many Turkish Cypriots in a foot ball stadium with some very bad plans for them. We should not forget that the attack on the Turkish Cypriots was part of a general attack on the Cypriot republic.Readers may want to go back to the interview of Makario's in Oriana Falatsi's "Interview with History".Britain of course had been practising for a while there the old and tried "Divide and Rule".I saw with my own eyes right wing connected members of the Greek military cheering at the overthrough of the government of Makarios. It was their dream come true, of course some days later they saw that the Turkish generals had been ready for a very long time to take advantage of that unique oportunity, clearly for the generals in Ankara the well being of the Turkish Cypriots was not a major concern.NOTE: The reviews of the book on this site do bring all sorts of important points to the attention of the reader. This is the most informative collection of reviews I ever read at the Amazon site.

Good book!
Well written, full of facts and light on 'opinions' - just the way history books should be written. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. International Relations - General    3. Political Science    4. Politics / Current Events    5. Politics/International Relations    6. ASIA    7. American history: postwar, from c 1945 -    8. Asian / Middle Eastern history: postwar, from c 1945 -    9. Cyprus    10. European history: postwar, from c 1945 -    11. International relations    12. Revolutions & coups    13. USA   

Reviews (12)

McPherson Excels with A. Lincoln Again
James McPherson (Battle Cry of Freedom) is the preeminent Civil War author and scholar of our time. The Princeton University professor provides fresh insight into A. Lincoln in these seven essays.
CATACLYSMIC MIND
ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND THE SECOND AMERICAN REVOLUTION by James M. McPherson is a thin juicy volume.You feel energized as you read and absorb its deep insights.Each of six essays shows that it was Lincoln's reality anchored character and powerful intellect that transformed the United States to the country it is today.One essay shows how Lincoln's use of metaphor, culled from Aesop's Fables, the works of Shakespeare, and the Bible made him a consummate communicator.His metaphors resonated to the deepest layers of mind of the average American in way that instilled motivation and purpose to a war that seemed impossible to manage or win.Compared to Jefferson Davis who was so highly educated and abstract but was unable to connect with ordinary folk.But it is McPherson who too is able to convey to us this president's great powers with his own metaphors i.e. "barnyard philosophy," and his essay, "The hedgehog and the fox," which compares and contrasts Lincoln's abilities with the "smartest contemporaries."ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND THE SECOND AMERICAN REVOLUTION is a great distillate of the voluminous Civil War Literature. You must have it for your library.
How Lincoln changed the United States...
This thin book which contains series of essays on how Abraham Lincoln revolutionized our nation during one of the most important periods of our nation proves to be well written and amazingly easy to understand. James McPherson writes clearly how the American Civil War was truly a revolutionary moment in our nation's history and how Lincoln took steps to ensure these changes. How we lived, our political/racial/social norms that are part of our society today took form during the Civil War. Even the way we waged war, have it roots in the Civil War, all have Lincoln's fingerprints all over it.Read more

Subjects:  1. American - General    2. History - Military / War    3. History: American    4. Literary Collections    5. Literature: Classics    6. Military - General    7. United States - Civil War    8. American history: c 1800 to c 1900    9. History / United States / Civil War Period (1850-1877)    10. History, American | Civil War & Reconstruction    11. Revolutions & coups    12. USA    13. c 1800 to c 1900   

Reviews (11)

More than a Biography

Good story, poor writing
Good review of the life and times of an often over-looked founders but it's often hard to follow the disorganized and disjointed style of the author.

A Walking Revolution
The first couple of chapters are a reawakening to the true author of our Declaration of Independence and the great Liberal Concept of Liberty and Rights. Sadly, the book then turns into a strained effort to link Paine to every subsequent left leaning movement without creditable argument and to little purpose in explaining Paine's Promise ofAmerica. Popcorn Politics. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1737-1809    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Historical - U.S.    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Influence    8. Paine, Thomas,    9. Political History    10. Political culture    11. Politics and government    12. Revolutionary    13. United States    14. United States - 18th Century    15. History / Revolutionary   

Reviews (9)

Written with a strong anti-American bias
If you like your history served up anti-American style, this book is for you.But if not, keep looking.Like so many modern authors of American History books, Boatner is on a mission to counter the overly pro-American history books used in schools for many years.So he wrote this with an at least as bad anti-American bias.Sorry, two wrongs don't make a right.Does ANYONE write balanced history books?I'll leave you with a very interesting FACT (though untold in any review or description of this book):He lived in Paris when he wrote this book and did *all his research* there.That's Paris, FRANCE.Should tell you all you need to know.

A definite must have!!!!
Anyone who is mildly intersted or intensely obsessed with the American Revolution needs to have this reference on their bookshelf!!

Essential........
Mark Boatner's "Encyclopedia of the American Revolution" is an indespensable guide for understanding those who participated, battles that were fought and leaders whom, even though they may have played a smaller role, guided the republic, fought the republic and observed the republic from its inception.
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Subjects:  1. Encyclopedias    2. History    3. History - Military / War    4. History: American    5. Military - General    6. Revolution, 1775-1783    7. U.S. History - Revolution And Confederation (1775-1789)    8. United States    9. United States - Colonial Period    10. United States - Revolutionary War    11. American history: c 1800 to c 1900    12. Reference works    13. Revolutions & coups    14. USA    15. c 1700 to c 1800    16. c 1800 to c 1900   

Reviews (9)

It's still happening!
After the successful coup by the CIA, general Castillo Armas was "made" president.Just two years later he was murdered, and Gen. Ydigoras Fuentes took power (1958).In response to the increasingly autocratic rule of Gen. Fuentes, a group of junior military officers revolted in 1960. When they failed, several went into hiding and established close ties with Cuba. This group (the guerrillas) became the nucleus of the forces that were in armed insurrection against the government for the next 36 years.
Power and influence
BITTER FRUIT is about the means and methods the U.S. government, through the CIA and the American ambassador to Guatemala, used to overthrow the democratically elected government of Guatemala in 1954. The Guatemalan president Jacobo Arbenz was leading an administration that was working to enact land reform. It was hoped that these efforts, among others, would stem the tide of poverty in a country still bound to a labor system that forced poor people to work a certain number of days on large farms or face prison time. Shaking off the vestiges of a dictatorship that was defeated by popular elections in the 1940s, Guatemala sought such reforms to enfranchise more citizens.
More accounts of U.S. terrorism in the world
I'm glad to see yet one more accurate account of how far an almost imperceptible percentage of this country's population is willing to go in the name of their interests. It's really sad that those who should be most interested in this, namely U.S. citizens, turn a blind eye to it. But as it has been proven throughout centuries of history, silent propaganda, coupled with loud lies told by the rest of the press, works really well at keeping the population in a different galaxy. Otherwise, they would not allow these things to happen.
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Subjects:  1. Foreign relations    2. Guatemala    3. History    4. History: World    5. Intelligence Operations    6. International Relations - General    7. Latin America - Central America    8. Military - Intelligence/Espionage    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Revolution, 1954    11. U.S. - Central America Relations    12. United States    13. United States - 20th Century    14. American history: postwar, from c 1945 -    15. History / Latin America    16. Revolutions & coups   

Reviews (2)

Brilliance, Scholarship, and Common Sense
For any reader seriously interested in a sophisticated, nuanced, and intensely informative analysis of a political andreligious movement and culture that now dominates the world stage, Prof. Roxanne Euben's "Enemy In The Mirror" is a bracing, eye-opening work of depth and power. Euben examinesIslamic Fundamentalism on its own terms, and with its own series of definitions and directions, rather than opts for the distinctly "Western" reading that so reflexively and arrogantly permeates so much discussion of this subject. It's the difference between the author who is content to point a finger at her subject and say "they're different!" and an author of Euben's intelligence and caliber, who finds it infinitely more compelling to ask, "WHY are they different?" and then goes about trying to answer the question and , perhaps more importantly, understand the answer. Enriching and essential reading.

A Rich and Original Work
It has always been more than a little embarrassing that scholars of political thought who purport to address "universal" and "timeless" questions of political life have displayed such provincial disregard for political texts, thinkers, and traditions that are located beyond the shores of Western Europe and North America.It is no less embarrassing that so many contemporary representatives of this "tradition" of political thought have either ignored powerful religio-political movements in the "West" and "non-West," or have sought to interpret those movements from within the tired and familiar analytic frameworks that have dominated Anglo-American political science for at least the past half-century. In this impressive and remarkably ambitious book, Roxanne Euben makes considerable headway in correcting both of these parochial tendencies, while also casting considerable light on the nature and significance of Islamic fundamentalist challenges to the commitments of Western rationalism.
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Subjects:  1. Comparative Religion    2. Government - Comparative    3. History & Theory - General    4. International Relations - General    5. Islam - General    6. Islamic countries    7. Islamic fundamentalism    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics and government    10. Politics/International Relations    11. Rationalism    12. Religion    13. ASIA    14. Africa    15. History / Middle East    16. Islamic studies    17. Middle Eastern Studies    18. Political Philosophy    19. Political Science and International Relations    20. Political science & theory    21. Postcolonial Studies    22. Revolutions & coups   

Reviews (1)

Good read; a few quirks
My wife was born and raised in Hungary and her father and his family were arrested and returned to Budapest for trying to cross the border with Austria, so I was eager to read the book.Although the book is described as being about the revolution, it is really about the political history of Hungary from the beginning of the 1900s up to the '56 revolution, with a few tidbits beyond.I was glad to get the broader perspective.
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Subjects:  1. 1945-1989    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Communism    4. Eastern Europe - History    5. Europe - Austria & Hungary    6. Europe - General    7. Europe, Eastern    8. General    9. Historical - General    10. History    11. History - General History    12. History: World    13. Hungary    14. Personal Memoirs    15. Rebellion And Insurgency    16. Revolution, 1956    17. Revolutionary    18. History / General   

Reviews (50)

STUPID PEOPLE
CONGO THIS CONGO THAT, BOLIVIA THIS BOLIVIA THAT.
VIB: Very Important Book
WARNING!
Bad book from a mad communist
Here in Brazil, about ten years ago, I tried to read this bad book, but I never finished it.I tried to read, one book printed in Argentina, wrote in spanish.This book is bad about even guerrilla warfare.
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Subjects:  1. Case studies    2. Guerrilla Warfare    3. History & Theory - Radical Thought    4. History - General History    5. Latin America    6. Latin America - General    7. Military Science    8. Science/Mathematics    9. Technology    10. American history: postwar, from c 1945 -    11. Central America    12. Cuba    13. History / Military / General    14. Irregular or guerrilla forces & warfare    15. Political science & theory    16. Revolutions & coups    17. South America    18. Terrorism, freedom fighters, armed struggle    19. USA   

Reviews (1)

Brilliant
This book is yet another deep, original and controversial contribution of Hannah Arendtto twentieth century political theory. In this book, Arendt analyzes the phenomenon of revolution by focusing almost exclusively on thegreat XVIIIth century revolutions, the American and the French. Arendt�sdeep insights allow her to compare, both on a theoretical and a practicallevel, the similarities and differences between the two and on how and whythe American Revolution allowed the foundation of freedom while the Frenchfailed miserably in this attempt almost from the beginning. The greatthemes in this book are the social question (necessity) in its relation topolitics (the realm of freedom) and the ever-present distinction betweenliberation and freedom properly speaking. Thus, constitutions and theirsignificance, the problem of secular law in relation to its need for anAbsolute with which to provide a foundation for it, the problem ofhypocrisy and Robespierre�s Terror, and insightful interpretations of someof the Founding Fathers� political thought (though in my opinion a bit toofar reaching in her inferences thereof), are all issues with which shedeals with in this book and which are rounded up in a great closingchapter. Deep, powerful, perceptive, intense: like most of Arendt�swritings, a must read for anyone interested in political thought andtheory. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History & Surveys - Modern    2. History & Theory - General    3. History - General History    4. Political    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Politics/International Relations    7. Revolutionary    8. History / Revolutionary    9. Revolutions & coups   

Subjects:  1. General    2. History    3. History - General History    4. Hizb al-Shuyui al-Iraqi    5. Iraq    6. Middle East - General    7. Politics and government    8. Social Classes    9. Social Science    10. Sociology    11. Ã²Hizb al-ShuyÃ¥u°åi al-°IrÃ¥aqÃ¥i    12. ASIA    13. History / Middle East    14. Political Science / General    15. Revolutions & coups   

Reviews (1)

Who knew?
This is an accessible biography of the Nicaraguan revolutionary guerrilla leader, Augusto Sandino, from whom the Sandinistas took their name. Sandino was a profoundly religious man. To be sure, some have called Sandino's religion to our attention before, but this book places Sandino under the light of his peculiar millenarian beliefs, and challenges the polarity of viewing Sandino as a patriotic national liberator or as a crazed murdering bandit. Mainly guided by the evidence, Navarro-Genie, who is himself born in Nicaragua but teaches in Canada, ably walks through the minefields of a few controversies, tracing the unfolding of Sandino's changing religious disposition with significant care and empathy. I thought the chapter on Sandino's trip to Mexico could have been tighter. In all, it is a long-overdue and novel interpretation of a very influential Latin American life. It will be interesting to see how Sandino's admirers and detractors will react to this revealing book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1895-1934    2. Bio