Product Description

Published for the first time in English, this is an account of Che Guevara's 1952 motorcycle tour of South America by his close friend and travelling companion, Alberto Granado.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #98959 in Books
• Published on: 2003-12-04
• Original language: Spanish
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Review
Che Guevara's Motorcycle Diaries gives an account of the six-month-long journey through South America which crystallised his political commitment. He was accompanied on that journey by a young doctor, Alberto Granado, and this book is Granado's own version of their eye-opening trip through Chile, Peru, Colombia and Venezuela. Granado was as changed by what they saw of Latin American poverty and injustice as was Che, though it led him in a less glamorous and high-profile direction, confirming his commitment to fight suffering through medical rather than political means. First published in Spanish in 1978, it's more than just a further memoir for Che completists. Interest in the book will no doubt be boosted by Robert Redford's movie based on the Motorcycle Diaries, also due for release in December.

Synopsis
Published for the first time in English, this is an account of Che Guevara's 1952 motorcycle tour of South America by his close friend and travelling companion, Alberto Granado.

About the Author
Alberto Granado was born in Hernando, Province of Cordoba in 1922. From December 1951 to July 1952 he travelled, after attending the University of Cordoba, all over Latin America with Ernesto Guevara de la Serna. When the dictator Perez Gimenez was ousted in Venezuela he was put in charge of the reorganisation of the School of Bioanalysis of the University of Caracas where he worked until 1961. He then went to live in Cuba where he worked at various universities. He is at present a consultant with the Department of Genetics at the National Health Centre for Stockbreeding and Farming. Luc-a Alvarez de Toledo grew up and was educated in Argentina and was awarded a Scholarship at the University of Delhi. Having worked as a journalist and broadcaster she settled in London in 1968 and established herself as a professional interpreter and translator, working at the highest levels for Governments, Corporations and international institutions. Her background, knowledge of South America and long-standing friendship with Alberto Granado have enabled her to bring a unique understanding to the first English language translation of this book.

Customer Reviews

similarity to the film
In reference to the previous reviewer: The Puppy 'come back' is featured in the film albeit very briefly (when they crash in the ditch early on in the journey)

Heroes
A different cover adorns my copy - a film still of the actors sitting atop Poderosa II - but I'll assume this is the complete version. A beautifully written account of their journey this book enhances Che's own diary and gives us a clearer picture of their adventures. A shame there are no pictures, but the journey sounds more thrilling and ludicrous than Salles' film - why did he not include the 'puma' incident or the puppy, Come Back, in the movie? A lovely tale about two extraordinary people.

The legacy of Che lives on
I felt like I was travelling with them. This story of Che Guevara and Alberto Granado's trek through the Americas was a moment in history that cannot be repeated. Their journeys through Chile and their first hand experiences of how the poor and underprivileged of the Americas really made you understand how Ernesto Guevara became the revolutionary the world knows but this story and the human aspects to his character and make you understand the passion that led the man. Alberto tells the story of their journey with humour and gives you reader his immediate reactions to some of Che's thoughts and actions throughout the journey. This is a book worth reading for those who are intrigued by the legend for this give you and portrait of the man as he was - passionate, caring and carefree.