Shadows of Tender Fury [Paperback]

Frank Bardacke (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Spanish

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Monthly Review Press (January 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0853459185
• ISBN-13: 978-0853459187
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,227,639 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #71 in Books > History > Americas > Central America > El Salvador

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Subcomandante Marcos Speaks Out:, March 20, 2000

By 

P. Morgan (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shadows of Tender Fury (Paperback)

Shadows of Tender Fury is one of the best compilations of Zapatista philosophy I have ever read. Subcomandante Marcos writes in a wonderfully satirical tone which reveals the problems suffered by the people of Chiapas and around the world. Reading the inspirational and optimistic words of Marcos gives one a better understanding of the struggles of the Zapatistas. This is excellent reading for the student who seeks truth.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An important and informing book about the Zapatista uprising, January 19, 2001

By 

"neeterskeeter27" (http://www.neeterskeeter.com/new) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shadows of Tender Fury (Paperback)

Reading the letters and communiques of Marcos contained in Shadows of Tender Fury made me feel incredibly sympathetic for the indigenous people of Chiapas. I felt outraged at the injustice done to them by the Mexican government and the rich ranchers in the area. I found Marcos' tone to be comical despite the dreadful situations he was writing about. For instance, he writes the elaborate PS's and rambles about things with little relevance and tells stories about animals, etc. This gives some lightness to the very heavy subject matter addressed in the book and adds some comic relief. I also thought it was kind of him to respond to everyone who wrote to him, even if they were small children. By the end of the book I liked Marcos' personality from what I glimpsed of it in his tone, and I was impressed at the noble cause he had taken on.

The one problem I had with this book is not a fault of the writer's but of the editor's. Marcos' letters are repetitive and long, and I feel that much could have been cut out and Shadows of Tender Fury would still be a good book that encompassed most of Marcos' letters and ideas. However, with so much repetition the book starts to get tedious. Some heavy editing would have made a big difference.

In general I think that Shadows of Tender Fury is an important contribution to Latin American literature because it details the fight of the Zapatistas and chronicles their events. It also draws support from a much larger community, for I read it in the northeastern US although it is occurring in southeastern Mexico. I did not know very much about the indigenous fight before reading this book so I am glad I did and recommend it to others.

(If you enjoyed my book review please see my others here at amazon.com under my username neeterskeeter. Or, visit my homepage neeterskeeter.com, or bellaonline.com, where I write the Feminism column, for more of my book reviews and writing. I welcome any comments via email. Thanks!)