Customer Reviews

Bolivar: Liberator of a Continent

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1 star:		(4)

 

 

I have read "Bolivar: Liberator of a Continent" from cover to cover and found it not only enjoyable reading but also most informative about the life of this great man. (bill boyd) has succeeded in putting flesh and bone on well-known historical figures. (His) depictions of them are completely accurate as are (the) descriptions of the events of the period. It is a book that not only scholars but everyone will enjoy.

Yes, they are seven including Guyana. A nice and easy to read biography of the most important military and statesman in the Meridian America. An interesting twist of the book is the enormous affinity and love that Bolivar felt for the United States of America, a country that he visited in 1806. He had personal contact with Lafayette, Washington, Jefferson, and had a locket with Washington's hair up to his last moment of life. Bolivar's amazing persistence, love for women [his "musae"], physical strength in a minute body, vision of the future, generosity [he ruined himself in fighting his wars], his abolition of slavery [if not final, his conception of it] all, come nicely in this obligatory book in the Bolivar's collection.

Excerpts from a letter from: Pablo Antonio Thalassinos, Minister of Education, Republica de Panama --

"I have read "Bolivar: Liberator of a Continent" from cover to cover and found it not only enjoyable reading, but also most informative about the life of this great man. (Bill Boyd) has succeeded in putting flesh and bone on well-known historical figures. Moreover the depictions of them are completely accurate as are the descriptions of the events of the period. It is a book that not only scholars but everyone will enjoy."

When reading a biography, one hopes to learn about the subject and its times. This book provides neither; it describes certain events but fails miserably to describe Bolivar's possible motives for engaging in his quest. It also fails to describe the political realities of the times. The only attempt is made when the author describes his teacher Simon Rodriguez's influence on young Simon. But even then, the author analysis is simplistic and totally off the mark, it attempts to convey the notion that the revolution was the result of a class struggle a la Bolshevik, when in fact all revolutions in the Americas were rebellions against exploitation and taxes from Europe.

Bill Boyd's Boviar: Liberator of a Continent contains fictional dialogue that sometimes reads like it was written for a Broadway musical; however, this thoroughly researched biography reads quickly and gives a genuine sense of the major players involved. Just as the pivotal revolutionary battle of Ayacucho, between Bolivar's army and the Spanish, remains a decisive moment in history, it and the events surrounding it serve as the narrative's pinnacle. The author gives generous treatment to Bolivar's governance after his successful campaigns to liberate the continent, but this should not enhance anyone's cynicism as to the greatness of this man, which Mr. Boyd deftly describes in the epilogue. The book also contains a informative postscripts which thoroughly secures Bolivar's legacy as every officer under his command went on to serve as a major political figure on the continent, a good portion of which were respectively elected president.

I read this book because of the quote by Arthur Hailey in the NY Times " Bolivar reads more like a novel than history. Its characters come vividly alive, as does the dramatic defeat of so much of the once mighty Spanish empire". Every word he said is true, I could hardly put it down until I finished it.

Bill Boyd's Boviar: Liberator of a Continent contains fictional dialogue that sometimes reads like it was written for a Broadway musical; however, this thoroughly researched biography reads quickly and gives a genuine sense of the major players involved. Just as the pivotal revolutionary battle of Ayacucho, between Bolivar's army and the Spanish, remains a decisive moment in history, it and the events surrounding it serve as the narrative's pinnacle. The author gives generous treatment to Bolivar's governance after his successful campaigns to liberate the continent, but this should not enhance anyone's cynicism as to the greatness of this man, which Mr. Boyd deftly describes in the epilogue. The book also contains a informative postscripts which thoroughly secures Bolivar's legacy as every officer under his command went on to serve as a major political figure on the continent, a good portion of which were respectively elected president.

I was fascinated by Mr. Boyd's account of Bolivar's life. I really knew very little about the man, but found the dramatization technique of the author made this an enjoyable experience. I hope that more people in the US discover this book, since both for Latinos and the rest of us, Bolivar's story is truely inspirational.

Readers should be warned that this book is written like it was meant to be read for the 8 to 12 year old age group. It is not only dramatized, it is also simplified and childish at times. The back cover says it all.

The book covers the basics of Bolivar's life but doesn't reveal much about his personality or his relationships. It is polite history that supports the mythology surrounding Bolivar that will make for exciting reading for any 12-14 year old boy, especially the battle descriptions.