Product Description

Traces 500 years of history from the time of Columbus and the Spanish Conquest to the present day. Shows how the turbulent modernization which started in the eighteenth century continued into the twentieth century.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #62821 in Books
• Published on: 2003-07-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 640 pages

About the Author
Edwin Williamson is the King Alfonso XIII Chair of Spanish at Oxford University. His other book, Borges: A Life was also published by Penguin.

Customer Reviews

Excellent
This is a first rate general introduction to Latin American history. It covers all the major movements and events in a sensible and balanced fashion and is written in a pleasantly accessible style. I particularly enjoyed the sections on literary and cultural developments. The text is supported by well-chosen charts and a useful selection of black-and-white maps which bring out clearly some of the points the author makes. Doubtless recognising that no work of this length can go into particular aspects of Latin American in any kind of detail the author has taken some pains over his bibliography, giving several good suggestions for further reading. I wish all regional histories were of this quality!

The only slight drawback with the book is its age. Quite a lot has happened in Latin America since 1993, when the book was first published. I hope Edwin Williamson finds time to publish an updated version; I should certainly be one of the first people to buy it.