Simon Bolivar: A Life
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He declared himself dictator of Gran Colombia and called for a national convention that met in April Although the attempt on his life failed, the storm signals increased. Peru invaded Ecuador with the intention of annexing Guayaquil. Once more Sucre saved Ecuador and defeated the Peruvians at Tarqui In the fall of Venezuela seceded from Gran Colombia. Reaching the Atlantic coast, he learned that Sucre, whom he had trained as his successor, had been assassinated.
Ironically, his life ended in the house of a Spaniard, where, toward the end of , he died of tuberculosis. He was a man of international renown in his own day, and his reputation has steadily increased since his death. As a consequence, his life and his work have grown to mythical dimensions among the people of his continent. We welcome suggested improvements to any of our articles.
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Dec 13, See Article History. El Libertador, The Liberator. Viceroyalty of New Granada.
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Lynch shows Bolivar as a military, a politician, a citizen, a philosopher and a human being. He explains very clearly his ideas and personality. Ultimately, Lynch makes a great analysis of Bolivar's legacy, how his ideas have endured time and how politicians have perversed them for their own gain. With a massive amount of historica A very thorough and objective view of Simon Bolivar's life. With a massive amount of historical references, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in American history. Jul 22, Laurel rated it it was ok Shelves: I finally changed this to "read" because although I only made it through about half the book, it has been passed along and likely I'll never get it back.
Bolivar is incredibly interesting, and if you are a history buff especially SA history this book will be great for you. I like history, but this book was really dense with extrordinary detail that I found tedious. Great book, just not my cup of tea. Jun 29, Luis rated it it was amazing. John Lynch es un maestro. Sep 13, Clara rated it it was amazing. Jul 18, Trisha rated it really liked it. Took me forever to finish this biography, but I enjoyed learning about Simon Bolivar. I don't think I learned anything about Latin America when I was younger.
Lynch did a great job of researching and writing about his life and the war to the death. Aug 01, Thom rated it liked it. I learned quite a bit. May 15, Kat rated it liked it Shelves: How did I not know any of this before? Jan 21, Daniel Pardo rated it really liked it Recommends it for: From the opening pages the reader gets the feeling that John Lynch is devoted to the subject matter, and he is knowledgeably qualified to write the book—he is Professor Emeritus of Latin American Studies at London University, and although titles do not automatically qualify the individual, Lynch's reputation and output are without reproach, and deserving of praise.
Several times he was appointed Dictator, yet nothing gave him more pleasure than to be with the soldiers in battle. Lynch manages to include as much information as possible on the protagonist, if with limitations. Lynch's style of writing is the kind which most people should appreciate: He is direct, objective, with a no nonsense attitude about the characters, and his presentation of the narrative.
His severity failed in its object. Morillo was left in control of Caracas and the coastal highlands. University of New Mexico Press. Lynch's style of writing is the kind which most people should appreciate: If you're taking a university course that is going to delve deep into the revolution and Bolivar's life, this book would probably be ideal. It is not a continuous strand of evolution but a radical change in each.
While there may be readers who find this style of writing too limiting, it is these traits which makes this biography worth reading. Lynch presents a general picture of an important figure far too long ignored by historians and authors in the United States, who have consistently avoided investing their talents outside of their own environment.
If there would be one blemish on this publication, it would be the size of the book; just pages of text, with another 45 pages for notations, bibliography, and index. Dec 25, David rated it it was amazing.
Simón Bolívar: A Life
Not easy going early since Lynch delves deeply into political theory, economic conditions, Spanish policies, slavery, creole society, and major political changing times. It's a rich broth of history, a singular scholarly achievement. Yet by the end of that period "He took the revolution so far ahead of its base that he put it beyond his own control and it became impossible to preserve the model of government he had designed. A unique and justly famous 'Liberator'.
Local regional warlords emerged in Venezuela and southern Colombia, and highland Peru. Nationalism emerged with many elements remaining of the monarchical Spanish culture. Mar 01, Brinn Colenda rated it really liked it. I read this book after living in Bolivia and writing my first novel, The Cochabamba Conspiracy, which takes place in and around Cochabamba, Bolivia, and as background for my next novel in which Bolivar himself is a central character.
This is a biography written by a historian and published by the Yale University Press.
Lynch does his best to present the material in a readable fashion, as opposed to dry fact after fact that some historians insist on doing. There is an extensive bibliography which I read this book after living in Bolivia and writing my first novel, The Cochabamba Conspiracy, which takes place in and around Cochabamba, Bolivia, and as background for my next novel in which Bolivar himself is a central character.
Independence movement
There is an extensive bibliography which will aid the serious reader. Bolivar was, without a doubt, a powerful force and interesting man. His leadership and personality were needed to break the simply awful Spanish rule of South America. It is amazing to this American that it took so long for South Americans to recognize the need for revolution, probably because Latin America was so huge and so diverse-- but do it they did. The long struggle for independence and Bolivar's outstanding leadership are well documented, along with his problems, mistakes and flaws. In the last pages of the book, Lynch extrapolates Bolivar's legacy as it developed and changed after his early death.
Basically, this is a well-researched and readable history book. May 07, James Harmeling rated it really liked it. Lynch's bio on "El Libertador" is easy to follow as he keeps the narrative going on Bolivar's herculean efforts of liberating and settling five countries. Lynch does a good job revealing both Bolivar's strong and weak points so that you get a good feel for who he is and how he thought. For someone who has traveled to Venezuela many times without much knowledge of their history or their patria padre, I found this volume very helpful in providing the background to the man and his time.
More than t Lynch's bio on "El Libertador" is easy to follow as he keeps the narrative going on Bolivar's herculean efforts of liberating and settling five countries. More than that, Lynch enables the reader to understand the complexity and difficulty Bolivar faced when pursuing his vision. Because of this, this book is only partly concerned with Venezuela. He devotes a considerable amount of space to the formation of Columbia and other South American nations. This recently published work is endorsed as the best single volume on his life. I found it well researched and carefully but energetically written.
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Simón Bolívar : a life
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