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Bolivar: Liberator of a Continent Paperback – January 1, 1999

by Bill Boyd (Author)

12 ratings

3.4 on Goodreads

19 ratings

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In this first English language biography of South America's greatest hero, Simn Bolivar's life unfolds like a Greek tragedy. From defeat, he rises to triumph, liberates Venezuela, Columbia, Panam, Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia, falls into disfavor and exile, only to be worshipped, idolized, and deified after his death.

Print length

280 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Capital Books
Publication date

January 1, 1999
Dimensions

6.5 x 1 x 9.5 inches
ISBN-10

1892123169
ISBN-13

978-1892123169
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Boyd paints a fascinating picture of Bolivar, a fighter devoted tot he highest principles." ----Americas "...Bill Boyd, in 'Bolivar-Liberator of a Continent,' has produced the stirring story of another great national hero." ---Cincinnati Post

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Capital Books (January 1, 1999)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 280 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1892123169
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1892123169
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1 x 9.5 inches

Customer Reviews:
12 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5

12 global ratings

5 star		61%
4 star		8%
3 star		17%
2 star		8%
1 star		8%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Bert Ruiz

Very Entertaining Novel

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 29, 2002

Bill Boyd spins a good tale. "Bolivar: Liberator of a Continent," is a great book to read on a long flight or next to a warm fireplace on a cold winter evening.
The author is a graduate of Yale and a scholar of Latin American history. He uses his vast knowledge of South American history to weave fact & fiction into a fasination account of a true "American" hero.
In the author's note at the beginning of the book Boyd explains he uses historial documents and official archives for his personalities and actions. To that end, the dialogue in this book is excellent. It brings Simon Bolivar to life and makes this book a great read.

4 people found this helpful

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R. C.

Bolivar

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 7, 2014

Verified Purchase

Great author who is writing about his love of history and of Bolivar as well as the history behind the man. He also talks about the mans very personal interests. Mr. Bill Boyd is a master of the English language.

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Paul S. Familetti

Boyd's Bolivar Narrative

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 17, 2001

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.

One person found this helpful

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manningT@aol.com

A Dramatized Biography of The Liberator of Seven Nations

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 14, 1999

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.

7 people found this helpful

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Kevin M Quigg

The hero of South America.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 29, 2010

I have to agree with some of the previous reviewers. This book is written in a novel conversational format and includes a history of the Liberator. However, it dwells on the personal aspects of Bolivar, such as his sexual relations with his many women. This was emphasized over that of the many battles Bolivar fought in. After over 200 years, the battles and the ejection of Spain from the continent is perhaps more history than how many women Bolivar slept with.

I am not sure I got a better idea of how Simon Bolivar was with this book. It could have better written and focused more on the history this great man accomplished. For young boys interested in history, this book may have some appeal. However for the serious historian, they should look elsewhere for readings on the Great Liberator.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 2, 2002

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.

7 people found this helpful

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Omar E. Serrano

Dramatized and Infantile

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 3, 2001

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.

2 people found this helpful

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rextrav@aol.com

Juvenile!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 2, 1999

A disappointing, juvenile biography of an important man and his time. The author, instead of describing the powerful revolution engulfing western man and how Bolivar became a leading, fervent and dedicated protagonist of this exciting age, inctead of dwelling on the Monroe Doctrine, on the powerplay between England and Spain, and other great world affairs that interacted with Bolivar's achievements, Boyd spends chapters of his meager and poorly written narrative on Bolivar's bedroom antics. Will Boyd describe 1998 as the year of the stain on Monica's dress? Sincerely

2 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

frances

Doing justice

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on March 22, 2014

Verified Purchase

The author did not do real justice to his topic. Unhappily Boyd does not show clearly enough Bolivar's magnetic personality or commitment.

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