BOLIVAR: LIBERATOR OF A CONTINENT

by Bill Boyd

Book by Boyd, Bill

Genres: Biography, History

335 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1998

About the author

Bill Boyd (1933–2001) was a jazz pianist, composer, and educator known for his engaging teaching pieces for young students. He performed professionally in New York and Long Island and published popular collections with Hal Leonard, including Think Jazz and Jazz Starters. With a Master's from Columbia, he taught for over twenty years before retiring to Florida, where he continued composing works that remain influential in jazz piano pedagogy.

Reviews

[KOMET · Rating 4 out of 5]

A historical novel about the life of Simón Bolívar (1783-1830), a soldier and statesman responsible for the liberation of much of Spanish-speaking South America from Spanish rule during the early 1800s.

[Jaime · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I picked up this book at the bargain table I expected either a dry and boring biographical book or a highly fictionalized romanticized novel. Instead, it was a lively dramatic novel about Simon Bolivar, the Liberator of South America. Bolivar's complex nature comes alive on the pages as do his loves, victories, exile and heroic persona. Although it was historical fiction, I came away with a deeper appreciation for the spirit of Bolivar. This was an enjoyable read.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boyd tried to mutate this historical novel into something reminiscent of a fictional novel. He used literary devices to try and make it seem that you weren't reading a history book. His use of these literary devices was awful. You knew it was a history book, and trying to cover it up obviously made it even worse. It was over dramatic at points and tried to turn Bolivar's life into a romantic and bittersweet existence. It was readable for a history book, because it did try to hold your hand and walk you through the history, but it was almost sappy in its attempt at storytelling.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

A novelized biography a bit long on Bolivar's conquests off the battlefield.

[Kai Palchikoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

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