Simón Bolívar: A Life

by John Lynch

Simón Bolívar was a revolutionary who freed six countries, an intellectual who argued the principles of national liberation, and a general who fought a cruel colonial war. His life, passions, battles, and great victories became embedded in Spanish American culture almost as soon as they happened. This is the first major English-language biography of “The Liberator” in half a century. John Lynch draws on extensive research on the man and his era to tell Bolívar’s story, to understand his life in the context of his own society and times, and to explore his remarkable and enduring legacy.

The book illuminates the inner world of Bolívar, the dynamics of his leadership, his power to command, and his modes of ruling the diverse peoples of Spanish America. The key to his greatness, Lynch concludes, was supreme will power and an ability to inspire people to follow him beyond their immediate interests, in some cases through years of unremitting struggle. Encompassing Bolívar’s entire life and his many accomplishments, this is the definitive account of a towering figure in the history of the Western hemisphere.  

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, War, Latin American History, 19th Century

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.

John Lynch is Emeritus Professor of Latin American History at the University of London. He spent most of his academic career at University College, and then from 1974 to 1987 as Director of the Institute of Latin American Studies. The main focus of his work has been Spanish America in the period 1750–1850. [wikipedia]

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

That he is so little known in North America obscures the fact that Simon Bolivar was like all our Founding Fathers rolled into one -- plus a winning general, which none of the Founding Fathers ever were. And instead of liberating just one country, he liberated five: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. And when he had served his role as revolutionary and liberator, he turned to nation-building. It was there he finally failed.

John Lynch's biography, Simón Bolívar: A Life is a book of alternating triumph and tragedy. Bolivar tried to do in one lifetime what was given to few men -- not even to Napoleon. It was made even more frustrating by the strange stew of races, climates, and topography that is the northwest of the South American continent. Toward the end of his life (dead at the age of 47 from tuberculosis), Bolivar wrote:

You know that I have ruled for twenty years, and from these I have derived only a few certainties: (1) America is ungovernable, for us; (2) Those who serve a revolution plough the sea; (3) the only thing one can do in America is to emigrate; (4) This country will fall inevitably into the hands of the unbridled masses and then pass almost imperceptibly into the hands of petty tyrants, of all colours and races; (5) Once we have been devoured by every crime and extinguished by utter ferocity, the Europeans will not even regard us as worth conquering; (6) If it were possible for any part of the world to revert to primitive chaos, it would be America in her final hour.

And yet, the countries of South America are emerging from almost two centuries of rule by caudillos and incompetents and are hopeful once more. The peoples of South America now begin to appreciate what Bolivar tried to do.

John Lynch's biography is excellent. My only complaint is that it could have used better maps to illustrate the tens of thousands of miles traveled by the indefatigable Bolivar over mountains, across plains, and through jungles to achieve his ends.

[Hans · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am fascinated by Simon Bolivar. Thanks to my Euro-Centric Education I learned so very little about Latin America. This man is the Founding Father of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Boliva (which was named after him). He was like all the American Founding Fathers wrapped up into one person. Hard to believe, but it is true. He had the Brains of Madison, Stature of Washington, Charisma of Hamilton, Tenacity of John Adams, and Prose of Jefferson. He had a dream of creating the Republic of Greater Colombia, which he achieved temporarily, but alas the inhabitants didn't share his dream and in the end he saw his dream crumble. After much disillusionment he believed the Latin Americans weren't enlightened enough yet for a Republic and would need dictators to raise them out of their ignorant state.

[Olethros · Rating 4 out of 5]

-Cuidado con lo que se desea porque se puede llegar a conseguir.-

Género. Biografía.

Lo que nos cuenta. Concienzudo y académico repaso (no exento de flemática ironía en algunos momentos) a la figura de Simón Bolívar, desde su infancia en un entorno acomodado y próximo a la administración colonial hasta su resignado final, pasando por la visita a Europa que tanto marcó su personalidad pública y sus anhelos políticos, su camino hacia la revolución en Latinoamérica y la revolución misma.

¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:

http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...

[Laurel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finally changed this to "read" because although I only made it through about half the book, it has been passed along and likely I'll never get it back. Bolivar is incredibly interesting, and if you are a history buff (especially SA history) this book will be great for you. I like history, but this book was really dense with extrordinary detail that I found tedious. Great book, just not my cup of tea.

[Yavuz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simon Bolivar, Latin Amerika tarihi denilince akla gelen ilk isimlerden birisi. Bugün bile Latin Amerika'nın siyasi ve toplumsal yapısında Bolivar'ın etkileri görülebilir. Öncelikle yazar John Lynch, bir Latin Amerika tarihçisi olması sebebi ile alanında yetkin bir isim. Daha önce kaleme aldığı birçok Latin Amerika tarihi kitabı mevcut. Yayınevi, bu kitabı Türkçe diline çevirerek çok önemli bir işe imza atmış.

Simon Bolivar'ın içinde yetiştiği ortam, İspanyol sömürgeciler ile Latin Amerikanın yerel halkı arasındaki dinamikler Bolivar'ın kendi yaşamı altında çok güzel yansıtılmış ki Bolivar'ın yaşamı, Latin Amerika'nın siyasi ve toplumsal dinamikleri olmadan anlaşılamaz. Bolivar, bir açıdan Mustafa Kemal Atatürk'e benziyor. Her ikisi de belirli bir süre yurt dışında yaşamışlar, Avrupa'nın içinde bulunduğu siyasi, kültürel, askeri ve entelektüel ortamları gözlemlemişler, ve vatanlarının bağımsızlıkları için mücadele etmişler. Ancak bir fark var ki Bolivar'ın ailesi, o günkü Venezuela bölgesinin en zengin ailelerinden birisi; pek çok mal varlığı Bolivar doğar doğmaz kendisine miras kalmıştı. Atatürk söz konusu olduğunda ise bunun tam tersi geçerli. Atatürk her ne kadar Selanik gibi Osmanlı Devletinin önemli şehirlerinden birinde doğsa da son derece mütevazi bir ailede yetişmişti. Hiçbir özel eğitim almadı, zamanın Osmanlı askeri okullarında öğretilenlerin yanı sıra kendi kendini yetiştirdi. Zaten bu şekilde olmasa idi, Kurtuluş Savaşı kazanılamazdı. Her ikisi de son derece bilgili, akıllı ve sorumluluk almaktan kaçınmayan kişiliklerdi.

Latin Amerika'yı özgürleştiren, bugünkü imkanlarını sağlayan bir liderin hayat hikayesini okuma şansını edindiğim için mutluluk duyuyorum.

[Alberto Ambard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, we all know that when it comes to biographies, British for some reason tend to write the best. This one is not exception: excellent research, deep understanding of the subject and the universal context surrounding Bolivar, his actions, his political views, his influences and the way he influenced others.

The text manages to be concise, yet very detailed and never boring. Of course, Bolivar's incredible story helps but there are so many other biographies about the Liberator that simply do not remotely match this one.

One very important aspect here is that the author avoided the typical "cult to Bolivar". He is objective and points out the greatness AND the weakness of the Venezuelan heroe.

For those who know the character well, this is a great book because it gives a very objective perspective rarely seen. Moreover, since there is no political agenda, the universal figure is not manipulated at all.

For those who do not know Bolivar, be ready, this man greatly influenced people like Lord Byron (to name just one), led the liberation from Spain of 5 countries, cross the Andes by horse and wrote political and philosophic manuscripts in many forms that influenced some of the most important thinkers that followed .Statues of his are spread all over the world.

John Lynch did an amazing job. Highly recommended

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like many North Americans, I knew nothing of Bolivar other than Hugo Chavez likes to invoke the Liberator's memory to give him cover. Long story short, he liberated modern-day Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia from Spanish rule between 1810-1826. He spent 1826-1830 trying to govern, and got run out of each, accused of being a tyrant. He died weeks/months later of TB at the age of 47, unsure that it was all worth it. Bolivar was a fascinating character who was a revolutionary as far as Spain was concerned, but a reformist in South American affairs. Based on Lynch's assessment, I don't think the Liberator would approve of Chavez's populism or antagonism toward economic liberty - neither was part of his revolution. Waging a so-called revolution against fellow Americans was antithetical to Bolivar's movement. Finally, General Sucre, Bolivar's most trusted general, emerged as an incredibly admirable historical figure, and I was genuinely sad to learn of his murder 180 years ago.

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simón Bolívar: A Life is a biography of Simón Bolívar, a Venezuelan military and political leader. John Lynch, a historian and Professor of Latin American History at University of London, wrote this biography.

Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte-Andrade y Blanco, generally known as Simón Bolívar and also colloquially as El Libertador, or the Liberator, was a Venezuelan military and political leader who led the secession of what are currently the states of Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Panama from the Spanish Empire.

Lynch explored the complex history of Simón Bolívar, the Venezuelan aristocrat, who liberated six South American countries from Spanish rule. A cult figure after his death, in 1830, El Libertador led a life that defies easy analysis: although influenced by Enlightenment ideas of equality, he rejected total democracy, fearing anarchy in the so-called ignorant lower classes.

Bolívar was determined to create strong central government, he institutionalized rule by local warlords – acutely aware of the factionalism rampant in postwar society and was bewildered when it eventually forced him to leave his homeland. According to Lynch, the key to Bolívar lies in his pragmatism. Leaders who have invoked his name to serve their political agendas have obscured the fact that his policies followed no single path and are meaningless out of historical context.

Simón Bolívar: A Life is written and researched somewhat well. While written rather well, it is a tad slow in the beginning and the narration of some of the events seems flattened and anticlimactic. However, Lynch builds up his case carefully, and marshalling his details, dates, quotations, and interpretations made this account of this historical and crucial man that more intimate.

All in all, Simón Bolívar: A Life is a well-written biography of Simón Bolívar, a revolutionist that changed Venezuela irrevocably.

[İsmet Uluer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simon Bolivar'ın hayatını okumak demek bütün Güney Amerika tarihini okumakla neredeyse eş anlama geliyor. Oldukça karışık bir coğrafyada özgürlük mücadelesi vererek Kurtarıcı ünvanını almış ama sonraki iç karışıklıklar neticesinde ideali olan bugünkü A.B.D. ile benzer birleşik devletler kurma hayalini gerçekleştiremeden hastalığa yenik düşüp genç yaşta hayatını kaybetmiş Amerika kıtasının Baba'sı. Şan'ı günümüze kadar daha da büyüyerek ismi kült hale gelmiş önemli bir tarihi şahsiyet güzel bir biyografiyle bizlere sunulmuş.

[Luis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brutal, creo que cada persona que haya nacido en Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Perú y Bolivia debería leerlo y entenderlo, de esa manera tal vez se entiendan a sí mismos. John Lynch es un maestro.

[Eduardo Garcia-Gaspar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Otra de las buenas lecturas destinada a quitarse de encima las caricaturas de personajes usados como instrumento de propaganda política de regímenes autoritarios y populistas. La obra de Lynch pinta un Bolívar humano y complejo que mezcló la creación de ideas o filosofía propia con sentido común y práctico, más una percepción propia que mezclaba deber y gloria personales.
La magnitud del la ambición creativa del Bolívar está bien contrastada con la mediocridad de casi todos los que lo rodearon y quizá sea este el drama del personaje. En fin, una gran lectura que acerca al lector a a realidad y lo vacuna contra los usos propagandísticos usuales a los que los héroes patrios son sujetos.

[Carlos Alberto Ledezma · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very thorough and objective view of Simon Bolivar's life. The book serves not only as a biography but also as a roadmap to the war of independence of South America.

Lynch shows Bolivar as a military, a politician, a citizen, a philosopher and a human being. He explains very clearly his ideas and personality.

Ultimately, Lynch makes a great analysis of Bolivar's legacy, how his ideas have endured time and how politicians have perversed them for their own gain.

With a massive amount of historical references, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in American history.

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read multiple biographies on Simon Bolivar but this one was by far the best. Simon Bolivar: A Life is the least bias biography that I have ever read, John Lynch definitely represented Bolivar in a positive way but he also didn't leave out others opinions on Bolivar. This made me feel I was able to choose how I thought about Bolivar unlike other biographies which only give you one way to view the subject. Overall I loved this biography.

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me forever to finish this biography, but I enjoyed learning about Simon Bolivar. I don't think I learned anything about Latin America when I was younger. Lynch did a great job of researching and writing about his life and the war to the death.

[Oscar Romero · Rating 5 out of 5]

La mejor forma de conocer la historia de un país es a través de sus héroes. Acá podemos entender las situación actual de los países de sur América. En este libro podemos tener el ejemplo de uña personaje que a pesar de las dificultades pudo sobre ponerse. Podemos estar de acuerdo o no con sus ideales pero definitivamente fue un gran personaje de la historia, y su aporte dejara huella.

[Daniel Pardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the opening pages the reader gets the feeling that John Lynch is devoted to the subject matter, and he is knowledgeably qualified to write the book—he is Professor Emeritus of Latin American Studies at London University, and although titles do not automatically qualify the individual, Lynch's reputation and output are without reproach, and deserving of praise.

In this publication, Lynch's extensive research, and bibliography, help him present the hero, Simón Bolívar, with flaws and all, and gives us a glimpse at his complex nature without passing judgment. Bolívar, the man, the General, the President, is too overwhelming a subject to categorize. A paradox, Bolívar was the scion of an elite “Creole” family, and at the time one of the wealthiest men in Venezuela, yet he devoted his fortune to the cause of independence; at a time when strict racial divisions were the rule, Bolívar decreed the emancipation of slaves as early as 1816, yet he was fearful of the mixed race majority who, along with former slaves and the indigenous population, might emulate the Haitian revolt against the white Creole minority. Bolívar was a product of the Enlightment, yet he maintained the colonial conservative notion of authoritarian power; a seeker of independence from European kings, yet one who favored a protective alliance with England, he believed in a hereditary Senate, and a life-long Presidential appointment. Bolívar had an immense ego, yet in private he was basically a quiet, humble individual, deferential to the trappings of government and society. Several times he was appointed Dictator, yet nothing gave him more pleasure than to be with the soldiers in battle.

Lynch manages to include as much information as possible on the protagonist, if with limitations. Lynch's style of writing is the kind which most people should appreciate: He is direct, objective, with a no nonsense attitude about the characters, and his presentation of the narrative. While there may be readers who find this style of writing too limiting, it is these traits which makes this biography worth reading. Lynch presents a general picture of an important figure far too long ignored by historians and authors in the United States, who have consistently avoided investing their talents outside of their own environment. Of the few other works on Bolívar, available in English, most are biased in one way or another, with a majority of them being negative, or focusing on irrelevant comparisons for their presentation. Prior to Lynch's book, the last biography on Bolívar worth reading was published in 1948, and revised in 1969.

If there would be one blemish on this publication, it would be the size of the book; just 304 pages of text, with another 45 pages for notations, bibliography, and index. When one considers the breath of the hero’s accomplishments, the many people that came in and out of his life and the number of events that took place and the significance of their outcome, this publication could easily have been better served with an additional 100 more pages of text, to make the secondary characters come really alive. For the many who are not familiar with Bolívar, these secondary individuals end up as props, rather than participants, and at times, the readers may be hard pressed to realize when someone entered the narrative, or left it.

No one should expect this publication to be the definitive biography on Bolívar, yet to Lynch's credit, he has managed to include as much information as possible on the protagonist—Bolívar is little known in the United States, and Lynch's book offers a very good introduction to modern readers.


Simón Bolívar: A Life

Hardback: 349 pages
Publisher: Yale Univertiy Press (2006)
ISBN 10: 0300-11062-6
ISBN 13: 978-0300-11062-3
Language: English

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

History deep, thorough, and well written, with Bolívar shown as a brilliant charismatic creole, and a 7th generation Venezuelan (a country named after Venice, Italy!). Not easy going early since Lynch delves deeply into political theory, economic conditions, Spanish policies, slavery, creole society, and major political changing times. It's a rich broth of history, a singular scholarly achievement.

The years 1810 to 1830 were dramatic, and Bolívar moved from country to country creating liberal, democratic, constitutional countries with no longer slavery. Yet by the end of that period "He took the revolution so far ahead of its base that he put it beyond his own control and it became impossible to preserve the model of government he had designed."He had at times poor judgment and yet he was outstanding in his long efforts at freedom from the ancient Spanish rule for Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. A unique and justly famous 'Liberator'. Local regional warlords emerged in Venezuela and southern Colombia, and highland Peru. General Sucre, Bolívar's most trusted general, emerged as an incredibly admirable historical figure, sadly murdered shortly before Bolívar died. General Santander was the conservative man of law, a major thorn in the side of Bolívar - outlasting him to become president of Colombia. Nationalism emerged with many elements remaining of the monarchical Spanish culture.

Publisher's blog:- "This biography draws on extensive research on the man and his era to tell Bolívar’s story, to understand his life in the context of his own society and times, and to explore his remarkable and enduring legacy. The book illuminates the inner world of Bolívar, the dynamics of his leadership, his power to command, and his modes of ruling the diverse peoples of Spanish America. The key to his greatness, Lynch concludes, was supreme will power and an ability to inspire people to follow him beyond their immediate interests, in some cases through years of unremitting struggle. Encompassing Bolívar’s entire life and his many accomplishments, this is the definitive account of a towering figure in the history of the Western hemisphere."

[James Harmeling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lynch's bio on "El Libertador" is easy to follow as he keeps the narrative going on Bolivar's herculean efforts of liberating and settling five countries. Lynch does a good job revealing both Bolivar's strong and weak points so that you get a good feel for who he is and how he thought. For someone who has traveled to Venezuela many times without much knowledge of their history or their patria padre, I found this volume very helpful in providing the background to the man and his time. More than that, Lynch enables the reader to understand the complexity and difficulty Bolivar faced when pursuing his vision. Because of this, this book is only partly concerned with Venezuela. He devotes a considerable amount of space to the formation of Columbia and other South American nations.

This recently published work is endorsed as the best single volume on his life. I found it well researched and carefully but energetically written. Interestingly enough, the conclusion is a brief but abrupt statement about how the present administration of Chavez perverts Bolivar by utilizing his philosophy to support his brand of Marxism. Obviously, Lynch does not admire current Venezuelan leadership and his manipulation of its founding father.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book to better understand the background to US intervention in Venezuela. Bolivar led a bourgeois revolution to free Latin America from Spanish colonial domination. I've been told that Bolivar was deeply influenced by and studied the Haitian Revolution and Toussaint L'Overture--which this book underplays. Did Bolivar only oppose slavery because Haiti gave him arms, money and ships on the condition that he add this to his demands? Bolivar, according to the author, was a follower of Jeremey Bentham's utilitarianism, the philosophy that advocates the greatest good for the greatest number of people. But which people? Coming from a rich family, Bolivar did free several countries, but not for the masses. That would have to wait for the socialists and communists of the mid-nineteenth century, in particular Marx and Engels açd their revolutionary followers in Mexico, the Caribbean and South America.

[Arturo Garcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un libro interesante que en algunos momentos se torna aburrido de leer por ser repetitivo en algunos aspectos de la personalidad de Bolivar que ya son descritas en capitulos anteriores, incluso se citan varias veces expresiones del libertados y allegados en diferentes capitulos.
Por lo demas, un bueno libro si no se ha leido nada sobre la vida de Bolivar, ya que ayuda entender en forma cronologica su vida y obra aunque sin entrar en muchos detalles. Quedé con ganas de saber más acerca de los acontecimientos más importantes los cuales son a veces simplemente mencionados. No se da muchos detalles sobre la batalla de tunja boyacá que permitió la liberación de Bogotá y tampoco se dan muchos detalles sobre su intervención sangrienta en Pasto.
En definitiva un buen libro que hay que leer pero que se queda corto en varios aspectos.

[Raul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me gustó esta biografía, es un libro fácil de leer y que satisfizo unas dudas que tenía yo sobre la vida del libertador, también lo usé como complemento a una serie televisiva colombo-venezolana que vi en Netflix. Realmente me gustó mucho.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lynch ha compuesto una obra maestra sobre el gran Libertador de América.
Es muy importante leer libros serios sobre estos asuntos y despreciar, no leer y no hacer el juego a esos charlatanes que hacen dinero a costa de insultar a Bolívar de las maneras más falsas y ridículas.

[Wang · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Lynch has a strong bias against Hugo Chavez at the end of the book.

[Juan Amaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lo que se dice sobre Bolívar no responde a un interrogante histórico sino a una necesidad política. Leer esta biografía fue para mí como poner un espejo sobre la realidad política latinoamericana. Lynch lo hace de forma excepcional y parece que hubiera colocado cada aparte de la campaña independentista en la parte adecuada del reflejo.
La historia parece más un prisma: acaso lo que le de sentido al espejo no sea otra cosa que nuestra mente rotándolo para darle sentido. El prisma de Lynch da lucidez sobre aspectos esenciales del pensamiento y acción bolivarianos: la independencia como un fin superior a la presencia colonial de España; el problema racial como obstáculo para la consolidación de un poder hegemónico y el caudillismo de las élites. Su gloria es más un combustible que un fin, y lo sigue siendo tras su muerte.
La cronología histórica es completa y no se ven vacíos superiores a lo que la ausencia de información y testigos dice. Bolívar igual parece que encontrara en sus cartas y discursos la manera de explicar como justificar cada una de sus acciones. En eso, se esté o no de acuerdo, es admirable que decisiones como las que él tuvo que tomar hoy resulten tan vigentes y carentes de doliente.
Sobre el mundo que él creó quedaron las bases de cualquier utopía; la libertad es un principio que obviamos y su pensamiento entiende que más que principio es utopía. Somos esclavos del poder que damos al otro. Bolívar estuvo dispuesto a ceder su poder a los británicos sobre los americanos, pues tuvo miedo de romper las cadenas que ataban al pueblo a sus caudillos.
¿Está hoy América lista para una revolución? No, pero lo estará cada vez más mientras se conserve viva y madure políticamente para eso. Por eso es necesario el espejo de Bolívar.

[Jaime Cifuentes Asuad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Como Colombiano, me resultó muy revelador. Hace un buen recorrido por todos sus aciertos como revolucionario y estratega militar; así como por sus movidas en el plano político, que hoy podrían calificar muchas de ellas como errores debidos a apegos.

Durante su lectura pasé por diferentes emociones, desde el júbilo por las hazañas de tener que liberar todo el continente o si no el esfuerzo seria en vano, hasta la tristeza propia de saber que muchos de los problemas que aquejan a la Latinoamérica hispana hoy en día son los mismos problemas no superados de 200 años atrás: mezquindad de los políticos, proteccion de los interesas de los mas poderosos, y cuando el pueblo estalla, sale algún caudillo que solo genera una situación peor que la anterior; todo esto apalancado en una profunda ignorancia y falta de educación del pueblo.

Interesante la postura (quizás utópica y lo que a mi entender fue el apego que lo tumbó) de Bolivar luego de la constitución boliviana de querer implantar un sistema de “monocracia” no heredable, regulado por los otros poderes. Y como algunos políticos incluso llegaron a imaginarla como una posible monarquía constitucional como la de Inglaterra, incluso pensando en traer un principe del exterior que fuese el sucesor de Bolivar. En lo personal, sé que es anti popular pero creo que ese puede ser el antídoto a los nefastos populismos que nos ha dejado el modelo democrático presidencial actual.

[Anka Ambrosia Ø]

Going into this I thought I was going to read about an abolitionist and a revolutionary and I wondered was he a liberator as some said or a traitor and opportunist as Marx critiqued him? The answer is neither - what he lead was the contradiction of desiring freedom while identifying with an opposing empire of British industry over a colonial one. He was a fan of Locke, the creole elites, and had a vision for incremental change and social harmony that lead him to kill those who demanded abolition and equality for slaves and indigenous people which disrupted social order. He is an example of how desiring to be a revolutionary with the desire of security leads one to become a false revolutionary that enacts new hierarchies in the guise of freedom and incremental change. To be a revolutionary that enacts change that cuts all hierarchy means to embrace the lack of security and the potential of death - but with a desire that's worth the risk.

[Artie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A super interesting about a historical figure that has always been in my periphery but I never knew much about.

I’ve been taking a course on the intellectual history of Bolivar’s writings and we were assigned this biography as supplementary material, and honestly it holds up. Lynch clearly has a favorable relationship with his subject, which I suppose is unsurprising. Bolivar is definitely a controversial figure in the Latin American independence movements but one that cannot be ignored in its evolution. Lynch seems to adopt this opinion.

I’m was particular fascinated by the development of his political ideals and how through his classicist education was able to pick and choose from other republics to develop LA ones. His relationship with local revolutionary leaders (favorable or not) was also super interesting.

[Stephen Nickerson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well I learned a lot about a fascinating man and a time and place I knew absolutely nothing about (thanks Harford County Public Schools) but this book was a slog. The writing is so dry and academic that it made a life story that almost defies belief boring. This book was not much more exciting than my college accounting textbooks.

Bolivar lived an amazingly accomplished life as both a revolutionary leader and thinker on the subject of government, liberating literally half of South America from colonial rule. He’d be a great subject for a Hollywood epic (I’m sure there are Spanish language movies about him). It just a shame that this well-researched book doesn’t capture the magic he must have had.

[Aidan Carter]

Interesting account of a key figure in the struggle for independence from Spain and the establishment of independent states un South America. The accounts of the Great Liberator's privileged upbringing, his exposure to radical ideas, his ultimately successful wars against the Spanish and his disappointments in establishing post-colonial states are all very interesting, although the man himself remains a pretty mysterious figure to this reader at least.

[Martin]

I was looking for a text to fill in my ignorance of Bolivar and the history surrounding his life. This turned out to be a great pick as it serves both ends -- and mixes in economic history, strategic, interjection intellectual history, sociology, and so on.

The repeated emphasis on bolivar's failures in policymaking (abolition, land reform, roadbuilding) due to the social dynamics and quasi caste system in play were, if not surprising, notable.