The author jumps forward, dances back, and gets lost as he moves along. He discusses the politics of Ecuador and Peru before they are even conquered. That in itself isn't bad, but he writes so poorly that you have to wonder if he can't write or if you missed something. The truth is that he writes poorly. Many times I had to go back to see if I misunderstood or skipped something only to find out that it was definitely Mr. Lynch's error. I seriously considered throwing the book in the garbage but thought I could learn something despite the author. My recommendation is that someone interested in Simon Bolivar get a different book.
Author(s): John Lynch
Publisher: Yale University Press
Year: 2007
Language: English
Pages: 377
Contents......Page 6
List of Illustrations......Page 10
Preface......Page 12
Maps......Page 16
Venezuelan Homeland......Page 20
Family, Friends and Neighbours......Page 26
A Youth of Independent Means......Page 35
Old Spain, Young Love......Page 37
Life in Paris......Page 41
Political Awakening......Page 43
A Spanish American in the Age of Revolution......Page 47
Bolívar and the Enlightment......Page 50
Return to Venezuela......Page 58
Grievances of a Colony......Page 60
1808, the Critical Year......Page 63
The London Mission......Page 68
Independence, Declared and Destroyed......Page 73
War with Spain and with Nature......Page 76
The Defeat of the First Republic......Page 82
The Cartagena Manifesto......Page 84
The Western Front......Page 87
War by Terror......Page 91
The Liberator......Page 94
Counter-Revolution......Page 100
Exit and Exile......Page 107
The Jamaica Letter......Page 110
The Caudillos......Page 117
Confrontation with Piar......Page 121
The Tactics of Race......Page 127
An Army for Liberation......Page 129
Páez and the "Llameros" A New Challenge......Page 132
The Angostura Address......Page 138
Reinforcements and Reappraisal......Page 141
A Second Front......Page 143
Boyacá......Page 148
Tensions after Triumph......Page 151
Carabobo......Page 158
Rousseau in Retreat......Page 162
Continuity and Change......Page 165
Bolivarian Society......Page 170
Citizen Soldiers......Page 175
The Bolivarian Economy......Page 178
Mountain Barriers......Page 186
Conference in Guayaquil......Page 190
Defence of the Revolution......Page 202
Manuela Sáenz......Page 205
Into Peru......Page 210
Junin and Ayacucho......Page 219
Across the "Desaguadero"......Page 224
The Bolivarian Enlightment......Page 228
The Lost Purity of his Principles......Page 236
An Ever Greater America......Page 239
A Deal with the Devil......Page 244
Adios Venezuela......Page 253
Quest for Strong Government......Page 257
The Road to Ocaña and Power......Page 259
The Assassins......Page 267
Foundations of the Faith......Page 271
The Limits of Revolution......Page 277
Rebels and Invaders......Page 279
Sombre Throughts from Guayaquil......Page 286
Monarchist Friends, Republican Enemies......Page 289
The Exodus......Page 293
Farewell to Power, Salute to Glory......Page 297
Journey's End......Page 300
Man and Myth......Page 307
Ideas and Ideals......Page 311
The Realist of the Revolution......Page 314
Paths of Glory......Page 319
Dynamics of Leadership......Page 322
The Cult of Bolívar......Page 326
Notes......Page 332
Bibliography......Page 361
Glossary......Page 368
Index......Page 370
