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Agents of change, they have been both damned and praised--but uniformly remembered as national figures. Some are revered all over Latin America. Yet most are largely unknown beyond their borders. This book makes them and their times and causes understood.The 17 men and six women span generations and causes--Toussaint L'Ouverture of Haiti, Juan Peron and Eva Peron of Argentina, Jose Marti and Fidel Castro of Cuba, Dolores Jimenez y Muro and Hermila Galindo of the Mexican Revolution of 1910, Che Guevara and nine others were passionately involved with independence and equality.

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• Introduction(p. ix)
• Doña Marina (la Malinche) C. 1505-1530 (mexico): Mother of Conquest(p. 1)
• Pierre François Dominique Toussaint L'Ouverture 1743-1803 (haiti): Commander of a Slave Army(p. 13)
• Simón Bolívar 1783-1830 (venezuela) Liberator of the North(p. 28)
• Manuela Sáenz 1797-1859 (ecuador) Spirit of the Liberation(p. 40)
• José De San Martín 1778-1850 (argentina): Liberator of the South(p. 57)
• Bernardo O'Higgins 1778-1842 (chile) Chile's Irish Liberator(p. 74)
• Domingo Faustino Sarmiento 1811-1888 (argentina): Educator of a Continent(p. 92)
• Brazil's Emperors Pedro I (1798-1834) and Pedro II (1825-1891) Divine Right and Democracy(p. 109)
• José Martí 1853-1895 (cuba): Revolutionary Poet(p. 125)
• Benito Juárez 1806-1876 (mexico): Builder of Democracy(p. 137)
• Pancho Villa 1878-1923 (mexico): Political Warrior(p. 150)
• Emiliano Zapata C. 1880-1919 (mexico) Indian Reformer(p. 159)
• Dolores Jiménez Y Muro Juana Belén Gutiérrez De Mendoza Hermila Galindo De Topete 1910-1920: Women of the Mexican Revolution(p. 169)
• Augusto Sandino 1895-1934 (nicaragua): The Visionary Versus the Marines(p. 178)
• María Eva Duarte De Perón 1919-1952 (argentina) Angel of the ""Shirtless Ones""(p. 203)
• José Figueres 1906-1990 (costa Rica): At the Center of Latin America(p. 217)
• Fidel Castro 1926- (cuba): Socialist Revolutionary(p. 234)
• Ernesto ""Ché"" Guevara 1928-1967 (argentina/Cuba): Existential Rebel(p. 248)
• Bishop Romero 1917-1980 (el Salvador) Modern Martyr(p. 263)
• Select Bibliography(p. 277)
• Index(p. 285)

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Library Journal Review

This compilation of biographies of a select few Latin Americans from Simon Bolivar to Archbishop Romero makes a useful supplement to the Biographical Dictionary of Latin American and Caribbean Political Leaders (Greenwood, 1988). Not surprisingly, these profiles are not accounts of peaceful change but very detailed descriptions of military strategies and campaigns from the 16th century on. Stressed here is the usually overlooked participation of women in these struggles; one chapter is devoted to women of the Mexican Revolution. Especially valuable are the bibliographies for each entry. Adams writes well, and it is hoped that he will follow up with a volume of lesser-known figures. A great buy for general collections.-- Louise Leonard, Univ. of Florida Libs., Gainesville (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

CHOICE Review

Jerome Adams regrets the "embarrassing difference between how much Latin Americans know about the United States and how little curiosity flows in the other direction." Strengthening this weaker flow is the raison d'^etre of his book, a uniquely conceived work which, along with presenting basic biographical information for 23 selected individuals revolutionaries, leaders, visionaries brings to the fore various inherent and prevalent patterns of Latin American culture. Among those noted are the omnipresent indigenista heritage; a noted compulsion toward revolution (in every nuance of the term) as exemplified by the 19th-century struggles of Manuela S'aenz through those of Che Guevara in the 20th; and US influence in the area. Also noted is the prominent role of women, from the time of Do~na Marina (Malinche) through that of Eva Per'on. Organization of the text is chronological, from the early efforts for independence from European control to the contemporary strife for national reform and political self-determination. The work concludes with individual bibliographies for each of the persons considered and one general index. Both public and academic libraries at all levels.-D. C. Henderson Jr., Pennsylvania State University, University Park Campus

Booklist Review

Twenty-three political Latin American leaders representing 11 countries are treated in this volume. The obvious names like Pancho Villa and Simon Bolivar are included, as well as some lesser-known figures, particularly women. Caribbean leaders such as Toussaint L'Ouverture and Fidel Castro are also covered. Entries are arranged in rough chronological order. Each is about 15 pages and includes a pen-and-ink portrait, a brief introduction, and a life history of the person. It is fascinating to see the foibles and setbacks of these influential characters. Writing seems somewhat turgid, and descriptions of battle scenes dominate some of the entries. A select bibliography for each person and a general index conclude the volume. Because many of these people are not well known in North America, most of the items in some of the bibliographies are in Spanish. The author states in his introduction that "there is an embarrassing difference between how much Latin Americans know about the United States and how little curiosity flows in the other direction." While this book is a useful response to that problem, many libraries will put it in the circulating collection. It is an interesting one-stop source for beginning students in Latin American history. For public and high school libraries. (Reviewed Nov. 1, 1991)