Bridge of Courage: Life Stories of the Guatemalan Companeros & Companeras (Paperback)

~ Jennifer Harbury (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A very dangerous book." -- anonymous Guatemalan military officer during his interrogation of Jennifer Harbury

Product Description

From the Woman Who Blew the Lid Off the CIA--The Book Jennifer Harbury Wrote When She Met Her Husband.

After carrying out multiple hunger strikes, in 1995 Jennifer Harbury forced the CIA to reveal that one of its paid agents had murdered her husband, Efrain Bamaca Velasquez, whose nom de guerre, Comandante Everardo, has become a symbol of freedom in Guatemala. In Senate Intelligence Committee hearings the CIA admitted to covering up its role in his death, and misleading Congress by "sweeping it under the rug."

Why would the CIA want these people dead? And what about these people so touched her heart that she would risk her life to help them? Through the guerrillas's' stories of unparalleled heroism, bravery and commitment, BRIDGE OF COURAGE throws an extraordinary light on the human spirit.

BRIDGE OF COURAGE reveals:

Comandante Everardo's story in his own words;

The story of Anita, a doctor charged with the responsibility of treating wounded guerrillas unmatched by a physician's worst nightmare;

How, amidst the daily battle for survival in the mountains, there is still the dealing that humor can bring to deadly situations;

The unspeakable horror of the Guatemalan military's efforts to wipe out entire villages;

The words of Tomas, whose tale of battle among the Mayan ruins of his ancestors conveys indigenous wisdom that leads to victory despite being hopelessly out-gunned by a U.S.-backed army.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Common Courage Press; Updated edition (July 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156751068X
• ISBN-13: 978-1567510683
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #822,277 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent way to absorb history, January 11, 1998

By A Customer

As someone who has never been able to easily learn from typical history books, I found Bridge of Courage VERY easy to read. Best of all, I actually remember what I learned, and feel that I have a real concept of the life and predicament of the companeros. I have an incredible amount of respect for both the author and the story-tellers, and can't wait to read "Searching for Everardo".

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing oral histories of the Guatemalan Companeros., March 2, 1998

By A Customer

The oral histories will pull at your heart strings and make you look for ways to help the Mayans in Guatemala. The accounts have such vivid nighmare quality images, you will find it hard to put down. The introduction by Noam Chomsky is a little dry, but very helpful in letting the reader know what is really going on with the CIA and Guatemala. If you like this book, you should also look at "Searching for Everado", Harburry's second book about her search for her husband after he is captured by the Guatemalan military.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good intro to guatemalan history, February 25, 2000

By	Abigail Smith - See all my reviews

This book is a good introduction to what happened in guatemala. I do agree with another reviewer who felt that the author was a bit biased but by reading her story it is easy to understand why. It would be good to also read some other accounts to get a better overview. But some of the first-person accounts were so eye-opening. There is a great variety of experiences shared.