This book tells the tale of the total inequalities that have infested so much of Latin America over the past five hundred years. The legacy of colonial and Spanish rule is a legacy of serfdom verses elitism. The stories of Cuba and the communist rebellions were totally understandable when appreciated in light of the historical context that this book presents. The history of Brazil, how it was once the seat of the Portuguese royal family, and the various nations on the southern tip of South America that have struggled with development offered a fascinating glimpse at a rarely talked about region of the world. The Cold War and the effects of globalization after de-colonization in Latin America was also fascinating. The analysis of the class structures, and how they have continued in different forms from government to government was detailed and convincing. Also I found the stories of the heroes and heroines of the attempted revolutions penetrating. Mostly I got a sense for the dramatic story that these many diverse and connected peoples have experienced.

Born In Blood And Fire is a superbly presented and concise history of Latin America which covers six centuries and twenty countries, linking accounts of individuals, economics, politics and social structure in a uniform, logical progression of events which will delight both general readers and students seeking an introduction to the region's history. Chapters provide many insights on Latin issues in the process of revealing the history of different nations. Born In Blood And Fire is an invaluable introduction and survey for students of Latin American history.

About 200 pages cover the 19th and 20th centuries, the first 100 pages cover the earlier centuries. This book is definitely worth reading. The twenty countries of Latin America share a common history of conquest, slavery, colonization, and revolution. It has a youthful population, and is a land inhabited for over a thousand years. It is part of the developing world, and has a European culture. It has a few large countries, and a lot of small ones. All of Latin America is about twice the size of the US in land area and population, but the US economy is six times larger.

After independence the countries faced enormous difficulties due to economic devastation, and unfair trade. Government funding depended on import/export tariffs, and had professional armies to maintain. Politicians used the spoils system and patronage to govern, and rigged elections. (This was similar to the US of yesteryear, or today.) Liberalism and neocolonialism worsened the lives of most rural peoples in the late 19th century. Nationalism helped to unite the countries against foreign imperialism. The Great Depression resulted in increased industrialization in response to lost exports. After WW II the US forced South America countries back to its neocolonial past as commodity producers. A country that resisted this saw its government overthrown, and ruled by a military junta.

The Cuban revolution led to the overthrow of most governments by military juntas. The faults and failures of military rule brought their end. The small countries of Central America continued to have large landowners and masses of peons, as in the 19th century. Neoliberalism now reigns supreme in Latin America. The state-run corporations were sold off to foreign interests; subsidies and public services for the poor were reduced or eliminated. It was a return to the late 19th century: foreign banks profited while many people suffered and starved. Foreign companies exploited cheap labor. Any gains as consumers were wiped out by losses as producers. What will occur next?

Angel Rama is peharps one of the most important critics of Latin America. The Lettered city is the perfect example. This book, written to explain the influence of the intelectuals of Latin America in the development of culture, is one of the brightest essays I've ever red. I fully recommend this book to anyone who would like to approach to Latin American culture, literature or history.

This book is always recommended in Brazil for undergraduates and it gives an overview of Latin America's main countries. It is a great factual book, so don't expect deep analysis of history. It is highly reccomended for anyone that doesn't know a thing about the region and it is very simple and clear.

This is a long, short resume of the history of Latin America since the Independence to 1980. Highly recomended, since it is one of the best history writers from the territory. Good luck with it.