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Searching for Everardo: A Story of Love, War, and the CIA in Guatemala
Harvard-educated attorney Jennifer Harbury went to Guatemala to help refugees, and found herself drawn into a political drama that would test her beliefs, courage, and moral strength. She fell in love and married Efrain Bamaca Velasquez, better known as Commander Everardo, a Mayan Indian resistance leader. Soon after, he vanished in combat. This is the story of Harbury's search for Everardo, one that grew into an impassioned crusade to expose those responsible for the human rights abuses suffered upon the victims of Guatemala -- one woman's heroic stand against the Guatemalan oligarchy, the U.S. State Department, and the CIA. A headline-making story of love, war, and courage, this is the personal account of an American woman and her unrelenting fight to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of her husband, a Guatemalan guerrilla leader.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 4, 2015
Really, really enjoyed this very personal account from an American woman about the civil war in Guatemala and related human rights abuses. I would offer this advice: don't do what I did and read it on a plane between two strange business men who do not want to see you weep uncontrollably.
This book is highly emotional and I recommend it. It is not, however, historical or particularly balanced. I recommend doing a bit of scholarly work before or along with Harbury's account. Her story is very moving and important to hear, but her portrayal of the URNG and the guerillas is highly idyllic. I'm not sure if it's because her political leanings to socialism caused her to see the compa~neros more sympathetically, or the reverse: the beautiful camaraderie of the compa~neros led her to be sympathetic to the political cause.
In any case, this book is definitely worth a read, and a must-do for anyone interested in Central American history or human rights.
Read for holiday in Guatemala, 2015
This book is highly emotional and I recommend it. It is not, however, historical or particularly balanced. I recommend doing a bit of scholarly work before or along with Harbury's account. Her story is very moving and important to hear, but her portrayal of the URNG and the guerillas is highly idyllic. I'm not sure if it's because her political leanings to socialism caused her to see the compa~neros more sympathetically, or the reverse: the beautiful camaraderie of the compa~neros led her to be sympathetic to the political cause.
In any case, this book is definitely worth a read, and a must-do for anyone interested in Central American history or human rights.
Read for holiday in Guatemala, 2015
March 23, 2011
Horrifying true story. I don't remember this being in the news during my college days. I probably wasn't paying attention. And that makes me wonder how many stories like this are there out there involving cover-ups by the US government with the justification of national security.
January 8, 2012
Around the World in 52 Books: Guatemala.
This haunting personal account of an American who fell in love with a Guatemalan native and her search for justice on his behalf is page-turning, eye-opening and heart-breaking. I will remember it always, and re-read it at some point.
This haunting personal account of an American who fell in love with a Guatemalan native and her search for justice on his behalf is page-turning, eye-opening and heart-breaking. I will remember it always, and re-read it at some point.
November 24, 2018
One of my favorite books thus far... Both heartbreaking and eye opening, Jennifer Harbury sheds light on the human rights violations carried out by the Guatemalan army by demanding truth and justice. Harbury’s story is dangerous and captivating allowing you to experience every emotion while reading her devastating love story. She is a true heroine.
July 26, 2015
An amazing book with a heartbreaking and incredible story. A well written and honest account of Harbury's deep love for Everardo and all she went through to find out what really happened to him. Guatemala is a beautiful country with beautiful people who lived through a barbaric past.
September 17, 2010
I'm prefacing this by the knowledge that this is my favourite book ever written. I read it for the first time when I was 16 and I found it by accident after reading a book for an English assignment dealing with similar subjects and I was in the library and figured why not. First time I read it, I burst into tears and, it's cliche to say something changed your life, but it, at the least, altered my perception on everything in my life. Before it I was aware that bad things happened in the world but sometimes you need to see it, feel it for it to actually be more than just a bunch of statistics, or photos of faceless, nameless people.
I finished reading the book and immediately wanted to use it for my RPR, but realised I couldn't do a proper evaluation on it so i benched it, instead figuring I would use it for my SYS English, but again shelved it in order to do a thing on the cultural and stereotypes difference in African literature between African and non African authors so I never used it, much to my regret because I wanted to talk about this and get people to read it and understand why they had to read this.
In 1982 there was a military coup in Guatemala and the military junta began a presidential lead campaign of ethnic cleaning against the indigenous population of the country. By the time the war ended in 1996, hundreds of thousands of Mayans had been murdered, over a million had been 'displaced', thousands more tortured and innumerable numbers 'disappeared' or having fled the country to Mexico and beyond. The one country who wouldn't provide them safe haven was the US.
Jennifer Harbury was a human rights lawyer who went to Guatemala trying to get information on what was going on down there in order to build a case. She spent time, learning all sorts of horrors and it was then she decided to write a book in order to try and highlight what was going on. In order to write it she managed to spend some time with the guerillas, or the companeros. it was here that she met Everardo, or Efraim Bamaca - a leader of the group who had been waging the war since the start. They spent time together and the two eventually fell in love but, as the way of things, she had to leave and he had to stay. Eventually, despite his insistence that he would not write to her, she began receiving letters and the two managed to meet up in neutral Mexico where they made the decision to start a relationship despite the knowledge that he would, eventually, have to return back to his group in the Guatemalan Volcano.
The two married and lived a happy, if brief life together before he returned and it was then she got word that she had to return to Mexico because some of the companeros has to see her. Obviously, this is the guerilla version of a man showing up with a uniform and clutching a telegram but, due to the lack of safety, she had to follow the protocols and that's when she finds out that Everardo's group was attacked and that he's missing. He may be dead but they have no body and she has to prepare for the fact that he may still be alive.
It says a lot that the initial reaction is to wish he had died instead of still being alive, but as she discovers that he didn't die we watch her try and force the Guatemalan authorities, and the US politicians to help her, to save him.
She goes on hunger strike, and as you read you find yourself cursing the games that get played around her from the Guatemalan army to the US diplomats. It's painful, and agonising to watch the road blocks put up and you watch in horror as the US, the 'leaders of the free world' aren't just wilfully ignorant to what's happening, but a contributing and active participant in it. In fact the CIA actually paid Everardo's torturers for the information they tried to get out of him. When you read what happened, when you picture it, it leaves you horrified and even more so that they knew that the army had faked his death in order to keep him captive to get the information from him by any means necessary.
This story doesn't have a happy ending. It is one of many stories during these forgotten countries who are nameless, faceless people and the sad truth is that if the author wasn't a middle class, educated, white American we probably wouldn't know this story. The efforts she went to get information, to find out the truth are nothing short or admirable and you compare her to, for example, Marilyn McAfee, the then American Ambassador to Guatemala who at best was a hindrance and at worst wilfully obstructive you can't help but be in even greater awe.
In 1999, Bill Clinton apologised for the US's part in the genocide in Guatemala but, as this book demonstrates, it was a case of way too little, way too late. The quote I used in the header of this entry is the actual motto of the CIA - I just find it ironic that they have that there in good consciousness when you continually read about this being the norm for them.
In my last book I commented that I felt disconnected from the story because of the lack of personal insights - if anything this book is the polar opposite. I probably felt too invested even though I knew it wouldn't end well. The author addresses her husband directly in every chapter and as you read you feel the frustration of every road block and the weariness of chasing your own tale. Despite that though, and despite the fact it will probably be months before I can even contemplate reading it again it's a book I highly, highly recommend everyone reads, at least once. It might not change your life, but it should make you grateful & appreciative that you're living the one you're living.
I finished reading the book and immediately wanted to use it for my RPR, but realised I couldn't do a proper evaluation on it so i benched it, instead figuring I would use it for my SYS English, but again shelved it in order to do a thing on the cultural and stereotypes difference in African literature between African and non African authors so I never used it, much to my regret because I wanted to talk about this and get people to read it and understand why they had to read this.
In 1982 there was a military coup in Guatemala and the military junta began a presidential lead campaign of ethnic cleaning against the indigenous population of the country. By the time the war ended in 1996, hundreds of thousands of Mayans had been murdered, over a million had been 'displaced', thousands more tortured and innumerable numbers 'disappeared' or having fled the country to Mexico and beyond. The one country who wouldn't provide them safe haven was the US.
Jennifer Harbury was a human rights lawyer who went to Guatemala trying to get information on what was going on down there in order to build a case. She spent time, learning all sorts of horrors and it was then she decided to write a book in order to try and highlight what was going on. In order to write it she managed to spend some time with the guerillas, or the companeros. it was here that she met Everardo, or Efraim Bamaca - a leader of the group who had been waging the war since the start. They spent time together and the two eventually fell in love but, as the way of things, she had to leave and he had to stay. Eventually, despite his insistence that he would not write to her, she began receiving letters and the two managed to meet up in neutral Mexico where they made the decision to start a relationship despite the knowledge that he would, eventually, have to return back to his group in the Guatemalan Volcano.
The two married and lived a happy, if brief life together before he returned and it was then she got word that she had to return to Mexico because some of the companeros has to see her. Obviously, this is the guerilla version of a man showing up with a uniform and clutching a telegram but, due to the lack of safety, she had to follow the protocols and that's when she finds out that Everardo's group was attacked and that he's missing. He may be dead but they have no body and she has to prepare for the fact that he may still be alive.
It says a lot that the initial reaction is to wish he had died instead of still being alive, but as she discovers that he didn't die we watch her try and force the Guatemalan authorities, and the US politicians to help her, to save him.
She goes on hunger strike, and as you read you find yourself cursing the games that get played around her from the Guatemalan army to the US diplomats. It's painful, and agonising to watch the road blocks put up and you watch in horror as the US, the 'leaders of the free world' aren't just wilfully ignorant to what's happening, but a contributing and active participant in it. In fact the CIA actually paid Everardo's torturers for the information they tried to get out of him. When you read what happened, when you picture it, it leaves you horrified and even more so that they knew that the army had faked his death in order to keep him captive to get the information from him by any means necessary.
This story doesn't have a happy ending. It is one of many stories during these forgotten countries who are nameless, faceless people and the sad truth is that if the author wasn't a middle class, educated, white American we probably wouldn't know this story. The efforts she went to get information, to find out the truth are nothing short or admirable and you compare her to, for example, Marilyn McAfee, the then American Ambassador to Guatemala who at best was a hindrance and at worst wilfully obstructive you can't help but be in even greater awe.
In 1999, Bill Clinton apologised for the US's part in the genocide in Guatemala but, as this book demonstrates, it was a case of way too little, way too late. The quote I used in the header of this entry is the actual motto of the CIA - I just find it ironic that they have that there in good consciousness when you continually read about this being the norm for them.
In my last book I commented that I felt disconnected from the story because of the lack of personal insights - if anything this book is the polar opposite. I probably felt too invested even though I knew it wouldn't end well. The author addresses her husband directly in every chapter and as you read you feel the frustration of every road block and the weariness of chasing your own tale. Despite that though, and despite the fact it will probably be months before I can even contemplate reading it again it's a book I highly, highly recommend everyone reads, at least once. It might not change your life, but it should make you grateful & appreciative that you're living the one you're living.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2021
A must-read for anyone interested in human rights, US foreign policy, or the Guatemalan Civil War. Moving, heartbreaking, and inspiring all at once. Jennifer Harbury is perhaps one of the most badass women of our time.
December 3, 2023
I appreciate everything that Jennifer Harbury has done--and continues to do--as a human rights lawyer. Her personal story is compelling, but instead of giving up in despair, she has continued the fight. She was one of the first to speak out when family separations began in 2018.
July 9, 2018
This is a very disturbing book about the US governments involvement with Guatemalan death squads and one woman's fight to find out who murdered her husband.
August 14, 2019
A great testimonial of the history of the genocide in Guatemala. It affects me directly because I'm half-Guatemalan and to learn this bit of history and how the US was involved really gets to you. It's powerful what she did not just for her husband, but for the indigenous people of Guatemala as well. I will consider reading her other stuff.
July 29, 2025
Harbury is a personal hero of mine. I read this while studying in Central America during college and it greatly impacted my worldview and perspective of the US at a young age.
June 21, 2016
What an amazing incredible story of astounding courage, strength and character! I cannot fathom the suffering required to propel a person to confront evil head on in a quest for truth and justice like what Jennifer Harbury went through in order to find out what happened to her husband. I lived in Guatemala as a child during the 1970s. Over the years I was disheartened and sickened by the military's violence perpetrated against its beautiful and peaceful Mayan population and terrified by the crime wave that inevitably followed. I have always been too fearful to even go back to visit, and yet this woman held the Guatemalan military and the U.S. Government accountable for the torture and death of her husband. I got goose bumps from reading this book! It haunted me day and night until I finished it. I cannot recommend it enough!
September 20, 2012
Absolutely fantastic book about a brave/crazy woman from the U.S. who goes to Guatemala and marries a leader of the rebels during the Guatemalan civil war, and her fight for knowledge and justice for her husband in the years that followed from injustices committed by the US/Guatemalan governments. Some of the writing could be a little bit tighter -- the author is a lawyer by trade and so her narrative lacks a little bit here and there -- but the quality of the story and her unending passion more than shine through. Regardless of your opinion on the morality of the war, this book is worth reading.
February 2, 2013
I read this in a couple days and for a while could not get over little the U.S. role in the Guatemalan politics is talked about commonly. It's pretty shocking--this book tells an almost unrelentingly tragic, terrifying story about state (Guatemalan and U.S.) violence, deception and disrespect for human life, although the depiction of the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity members she lives with for a short time and knows for years later is unbelievably stirring.
December 4, 2013
Ci sono storie che ti restano dentro per sempre, ed e' il caso di questa, capace di raccontare un amore totale per un individuo che diventa anche amore per un popolo, per il suo paese e infine per una causa civile. Insieme, questa e' anche una storia "scomoda" che costringe una volta di piu', e molto prima delle piu' recenti tragedie mediorientali, ad interrogarsi sull'imposizione forzata al resto del mondo della (presunta) democrazia da parte dell'Occidente.
August 19, 2009
This was an equally heart-breaking and inspiring, well-written story. It was a timely read for me since I read it around the same time I was traveling in the Lake Atitlan region of Guatemala, where the revolution described in the book took place.
April 3, 2014
This book is absolutely brutal. Jennifer Harbury's politically impassioned and deeply raw broken heart, shown over every page. Important to read if you want to know about Guatemalan history but really rough.
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October 15, 2007Does it count as having read it if I couldn't get past the first chapter?
August 22, 2023
top non-fiction book 1997
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews