Adiós muchachos: Una memoria de la revolucion sandinista (Spanish Edition) [Paperback]

Sergio Ramírez (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 12, 1999

Twenty years after the hopeful triumph of the Nicaraguan revolution and almost ten years after its defeat, one of the central figures, Sergio Ramrez, narrates the story of the Sandinista decade, sometimes successful and at times tragic and imperfect.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Born in Masatepe, Nicaragua, Sergio Ramrez rose from humble beginnings to the vice presidency of Nicaragua. As an author he has published political essays, short stories, and novels. He is the winner of the Premio Internacional Alfaguara 1998.

Product Details

• Paperback: 316 pages
• Publisher: Santillana USA Publishing Company (July 12, 1999)
• Language: Spanish
• ISBN-10: 9681905938
• ISBN-13: 978-9681905934
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,033,278 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Mistakes of Nicaragua, Retold., October 16, 2000

By 

Antonin Echeverria (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Adiós muchachos: Una memoria de la revolucion sandinista (Spanish Edition) (Paperback)

The life of Sergio Ramirez has been an effort to bring about logical, intelligent change to the Central American isthmus and to develop his narrative along revolutionary lines. This book is a prime example of the importance of Sergio as one of the most essential and overlooked authors in Latin American literature. His ability to bring alive the dreams, plights, success and defeat of the Nicaraguan revolution, more than 10 years their electoral downfall, shows how politics and human sensitivity are intertwined in Latin America. His account of the Sandinista revolution is excellent because from its start, he was a player, and although he did not fall within the dogmas of some of his contemporaries, he is not without fault. At its core, his account continues that old school adage "Don't mess with Uncle Sam".

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Narrative of an Episode in Nicaragua History, April 15, 2000

By 

"zorroeast" (Washington , DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Adiós muchachos: Una memoria de la revolucion sandinista (Spanish Edition) (Paperback)

Book Review: Adios Muchachos ( In Spanish) Author: Sergio Ramirez

The Author: Sergio Ramirez is re-known nicaraguan writer, a lawyer, and former member of the sandinista governing Junta throughout the eighties, then vice-president and more recently, chairman of the Sandinista political party. As a novelist he is known as author of several novels, his mosr recent is "Margarita Esta Linda La Mar" (1996), essayist and short story writer.

More than one country in Latina America had a writer for president. Costa Rica, Peru and Cuba (Marti), are only a few to name. Sergio managed to stay at the highest ranking governing circles for almost two decades from 1979 until his resignation in 1999 from his seat as Chairman of the Sandinista powerful political party. This was 3 years after his defeat running for his second term as vice-president candidate in 1996.

This book reveals a credible account from a true insider of the preamble to the war, the glory of victory, and the un-expected political struggle that the Sandinistas went through to stay in power and ultimately lose it. Because the free elections took place in a country that had been for ten years fighting a Contra War which depleted the national budget making it almost impossible to rule.

In his narrative, the protagonists come and go ( or die) like characters in a play. Some manage to come back "with a different costume" like a in giant theater, and history becomes a play with episodes. As Sergio relates, "I am glad I was not born before or after this chapter of history, because I would have missed it". Asked if he has any regrets, Sergio answers: "We did what it was right back then, what happened later we had few idea, how it would be "

Apparently, after reading the Epilog it seems that the true protagonist (if any other than the revolution itself) is Idania ( who was my sister) symbolizing the spirit of sacrifice and heroism that made this chapter of the nicaraguan history possible. Her martyrdom symbolizes the crushing of a dream. I was particularly moved by this. Idania, Araceli and Dora Maria were for the nicaraguan revolution what Haydee Santamaria and Celia Sanchez were for its cuban counterpart.

Sergio concludes his story with an interview with Claudia, the daughter that Idania had left in care of her parents ( and mine) when death came by surprise ( and to her 5 comrades) as member of the Sandinista Commando that was actually running the war in the Western Front in April 1979. The interview takes place in a Deli shop in Arlington, Virginia, an area of town where lobbyists, journalists and essayists meet for lunch and discuss policies and legislation. As she waves good bye before boarding the subway train, the scene symbolizes the return to normal lives of the protagonists of this Episode in the nicaraguan history. Apparently as if nothing has happened in last 20 years. Or has it? Is there a legacy or rewards? Sergio says there is...

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inmortalización de una época heróica y gloriosa, April 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Adiós muchachos: Una memoria de la revolucion sandinista (Spanish Edition) (Paperback)

Segio Ramíres ha plasmado en el papel los momentos heróicos y gloriosos de la revolución sandinista. L amagia de su estilo describe la alegria y el sufrimiento, las penas y las glorias, los trinfos y las derrotas, las ilusiones y frustaciones, los sueños y las realidades, del alma del nicaragüense durante las décadas de lucha para derribar una dictadura.

Este libro, el único en su estilo, será de gran valor para generaciones que dentro de unos 10 ó 20 años lo lean. Aprenderán a querer y servir a Nicaragua, a respetar a todos aquellos héroes y mártires que como Leonel Rugama vivieron vida de santaos y murieron mártires. Las futuras genraciones aprenderán también a valorar y hacer una crítica justa y constructiva por los desatinos, productos de la misma naturaleza humana.

Las futuras generaciones sabrán juzgar los hechos que fueron por encima de todo heróicos y gloriosis