At no other time in history did the world change so much as in the years from 1815 to 1830. Not only was Europe recovering from the Napoleonic wars, but the South American people were fighting for independence from Spain. One of the most important statesmen and military heroes the world has ever known emerged out of this period. Simón Bolívar, recognized in history as The Liberator, emancipated the countries now known as Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Perú and Bolivia. While conquering an area almost five times that of Napoleon's conquests, a woman was by his side whom history has nearly forgotten.
Manuela Sáenz was part of Bolívar's staff, a colonel in his army at a time when women were frowned on for doing anything other than looking pretty. She faced his greatest challenges with him, and even saved his life. Because she was a soul of intense integrity, she accumulated political enemies that made sure she was written out of the annals of the countries she helped to emancipate. A towering historical figure, similar to Evita Perón, Manuela Sáenz was born illegitimate and yet grew to be the most powerful and important woman in South America. Though Manuela's birth was as low, her struggle to the top was more arduous; her contributions to her country were more outstanding; and, ultimately, her achievements and power were greater.
In the many accounts of Bolívar's life, Manuela Sáenz is sometimes mentioned but only in passing and then often inaccurately. MANUELA is a saga extrapolated from many years of research into her life, and daily life in South America, during the period between 1797 and 1856. My intention is to fill in the "gaps" in history and provide the drama that must have been lived daily by this remarkable woman.
MANUELA is a story of bravery, romance, patriotism, history, power, intrigue and war.
