Simón Bolívar's Quest for GloryEarning glory on the fields of battle, Simón Bolívar (1783–1830) was one of the most influential and enigmatic figures of Latin American history. Most North Americans know little of "the Liberator" who freed South America from Spanish rule from 1810 to 1826. Richard W. Slatta and Jane Lucas De Grummond bring forth the entire life and legacy of Simón Bolívar, with special attention to the ups and the downs of his military career in Bolívar's Quest for Glory. Bolívar's life contained all the makings of an epic war hero: repeated comebacks from defeat, flashes of military genius, tremendous mood swings, dogged persistence, a near-manic quest for glory, and fall from political grace. He exhibited both military leadership and foolhardiness. Egomaniacal, he strived for military might and political power. The tragedy of his life and his political legacy remain hotly debated, but no one would deny this man's historical significance. Drawing from an immense corpus of writings left behind by Bolívar, his allies, and his enemies, the authors transport the reader back to the life and times of the Liberator, introducing lesser known people who fought on both sides of the conflict and showing how Bolívar did not win Spanish American independence all on his own. Voices of the past ring from this rich narrative—expressions of admiration for Bolívar's courage, leadership, and vision, as well as proclamations of the leader's failures and weaknesses. The first ever biography to suggest that Bolívar suffered from bipolar disorder, Bolívar's Quest for Glory treads new ground and shows how the conflicts he faced during the independence era set a political pattern followed by much of Latin America for the next century. Scholars and fans of military history, anyone interested in the development of modern Latin America, and readers of great biography will all welcome this book. |
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action America Angostura Antonio arms army arrived asked attack August authority battle became Bermúdez Bogotá Bolívar Boves Brión British Caracas Cartagena cause cavalry chief coast Colombia command Congress constitution continued Córdoba death December east enemy entered faced fight five fled followed forces four French friends gave glory Granada Guayaquil honor horses hundred independence infantry January join José Juan July junta land later learned leave letter Liberator Lima llaneros llanos Manuela marched Marińo miles military Miranda months Morillo mountain moved never night officers ordered Páez Panama Patriot Peru Piar Pisba political port president province Puerto received remained Republic returned River Royalists sailed San Martín Santa Santander sent served ships side soldiers soon Spain Spaniards Spanish Sucre suffered thousand took Torre town troops turned United Valencia Venezuela vessels victory wrote young
References to this book
Encyclopedia of the Age of Political Revolutions and New Ideologies, 1760 ... Gregory Fremont-Barnes No preview available - 2007 |