Patria: A spellbinding history of South America, as heard on hit podcast The Rest Is History

by Laurence Blair

Lost Countries of South America is an adventurous, ambitious and dazzlingly original study of South America’s past that bridges travel writing, history and rich literary narrative.Taking ten supposedly vanished and forgotten South American nations as his waymarks, journalist Laurence Blair travels to each in turn – an intrepid journey on foot and horseback, railway and river – delving into their unexpected histories and long, controversial afterlives. From an unbowed Inca enclave in the mountains and sprawling ancient city-states in the Amazon rainforest, via a mighty Patagonian realm that humbled a global superpower, to an African guerrilla nation that fought slavery in colonial Brazil for a century, and the Black revolutionaries who marched over the Andes to overthrow an empire and forge a united continent, Blair brings to the fore rarely-told stories of coexistence, rebellion and resistance. Drawing on rich archival sources, ground-breaking recent scholarship, and stunning archaeological findings – as well as encounters with drug lords, scholars, rebels, environmentalists, migrants, Indigenous leaders and urban activists – LOST COUNTRIES weaves a compelling narrative that speaks to universal themes of memory and national identity, placing South America at the centre of the history of the world – and its future.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Travel, Indigenous, Ebooks, Politics, Latin American History

427 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2024

Reviews

[History Today]

Aside from the Falklands War, and perhaps the Spanish conquest, Brits, in general, know very little about the history of South America. It’s an oversight that persists despite the continent’s influence on Britain, from guano – the bird dung fertiliser that powered the late industrial revolution – to the potato in fish and chips or roast dinners. The United Kingdom itself was formed after Scotland’s botched scheme to establish a colony in the Darién Gap. In Patria: Lost Countries of South America, Laurence Blair makes the case for the region. Blair, a British journalist living in Paraguay, tells the stories of nine South American ‘nations’ that either broke up, no longer exist or were merely imagined. Part history, part journalism (and part treatise for a better world), it’s a distinctive and original account of an under-appreciated continent.

Nations, and sophisticated ones at that, existed in South America well before the Spanish and Portuguese conquests. And not just in the Andes of the Inca empire, but in one of the most remote and important places on Earth: the Amazon. The rainforest – which Europeans and South American creoles typically regarded as barbarous – sustained millions of people in highly organised societies. By around 6,000 BC indigenous groups were domesticating plant species such as sweet potato, Brazil nuts, peppers and a multitude of fruits. These communities ‘shaped the forest around them into a rolling orchard, plantation and apothecary to live sustainably for millennia’. Alongside the Fertile Crescent and the Yangtze basin, the Amazon, Blair concludes, was one of the first centres in the development of agriculture.

Read the rest of the review at https://www.historytoday.com/archive/...

Daniel Rey is a writer based in New York.

[Kiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great book exploring the history of many lost and forgotten communities in the below the equator South American countries. It did have a tendency to be all encompassing at times - like the epilogue which was a great prelude to a next book and where the continent is going next but felt like it was more of a chapter given the themes than a rounding off.

[Bethan Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow learned sooo much reading this! Subject matter so interesting u know I love reading about indigenous people and their lands 🌎🌱shock horror colonialism is the root of all evil! Anyway I enjoyed how much new information there was here, but it was a dense one so quite slow going. Only criticism would be that there were loads of characters so had to consult the character glossary regularly but then they weren’t really in order so sometimes took me annoyingly long to find the person I wanted, so flow interrupted a bit. But such an original book overall if you like learning new stuff this one’s for you!

[Heath Fusco · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re interested in Latin American history, this is a must-read. Patria has the research backbone of a professor’s dissertation and the ton of a pop science book.

[michael conduit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding read - highly recommend!

I loved every page of this book. It reads well and provides a fascinating insight into places that you would not usually to read about - even if like myself you have lived in Latin America. Highly recommendable!

[Harry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic debut.  Adventurous, brilliantly researched, authoritative and insightful.  Highly recommend

[Daniella de Rijke Rodríguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think I've ever learned so much from a book as from this one. Laurence Blair's commitment to the task of storytelling is beyond admirable. The way in which, as a Latin American, feel like I can look back on our collective history from the lens presented in this book ~ is one of the biggest gifts. And the way in which I can now see the manifestations of our past in our current systems.

I talked way too much about this book to anyone who crossed my path, and I think it might be the best book I've ever read. I cannot implore you enough to get a copy and experience it yourself.

Thank you Laurence Blair for inspiring the deepest essence of me.

¡Abya Yala!

[Andy Helliwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saw this book in a sale and thought it was worth a try - massively exceeded my expectations. Energetic, exuberant, very balanced - a pleasingly fresh take on South American history, it really demonstrates why the continent was the birthplace of magical realism.

[Sam Pickett · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite books of this year

[Ruth-Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's a common saying that South America is the "forgotten continent," but that's a huge mistake. This region has played a critical role in shaping the world we know today, and Laurence Blair's 'Patria: Lost Countries of South America' gently reminds us of this fact.
I loved this book because it puts South America back at the centre of some of the most important moments in our shared history. The book is incredibly accessible to anyone unfamiliar with South American history, and the author takes the time to focus on Indigenous communities, the role of women, and the impact of African peoples across the continent.

[Richard McColl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great deep dive into unknown histories from South America and the author writes with authority, affection and a deep understanding of the complexities of this often overlooked region.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s probably my own ignorance that has caused me to rank this book so low. This was written by a journalist who wanted to educate on the lesser known peoples of South America, as such I expect this to be much more accessible than it was. This was incredibly well researched and referenced, but as someone with no prior understanding of South American history I was mostly confused the entire way through. It felt like it tried to cover too much, too many people, too many time periods. I struggled to follow along, and mostly forgot everything I had read previous as soon as I started a new section. Despite setting out with lots of interested, I lost it pretty quick, and probably should have DNF’d rather than force my way through.

There were stand out sections for me such as The Feathered King, Dark Earth and The Epilogue, especially parts which were in the present tense, but the rest were a slog.

I think the right person, with the correct prior knowledge, or even more patience to try and understand, but find this book fascinating. Personally, it just wasn’t for me.

[MR HUGH · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an extraordinary achievement. Part account of Blair's own exploratory escapeds into the South American wilderness, part investigative journalism and part historical romp through a history barely known in the English-speaking world. Blair expertly weaves these narratives together as he ventures into the unknown in the manner of Percy Fawcett. But the treasure he hunts is not the fabled city of Z, but stories of forgotten peoples and places.

The tales Blair unearths are so colourful, so full or betrayal, tragedy and defeat, that Gorge R.R.Martin couldn't have made them up. He delves into the fascinating, forgotten pasts of a land that shed light on the South American politics of today, whilst depictions of battles in the Andean passes, Amazonian jungle or along the Paraguay River, leap off the page like a Bernard Cornwall swashbuckling epic. All those interested in South American culture should give this book a go, whilst all history lovers will surely get swept up in the ride Blair takes you on.

It is bittersweet to finish this book, but I'll look forward with great anticipation for where Blair turns next. In the meantime, a trip to South America calls.

[Aden Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.8

Author describes specific periods of history in Argentina and chile (focus on the Mapuche struggle for independence), Peru and Ecuador (focus on Inca conflicts/independence), Brazil (focus on emancipation of African slaves), Bolivia (focus on loss of coastline and what it means to Bolivians) and Venezuela (brief history of current crisis and current situation). Enjoyed intertwining of historical facts with authors own travels/ interviews with local people and first hand accounts of locations/events. Sometimes heavy on specific names/locations/dates, even when not entirely relative to overall narrative (too be expected). Enjoyed book but could be difficult to follow, especially when author calls back to previous information (could just be my slow brain).

[Ferdinand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to learn about South America’s history. The book will give you a good basis to understand today’s borders/ conflicts (“why does Bolivia not have access to the sea”, “why was paraguay more wealthy back in the days”). The author switches from first person to narrating ancient history which is written well so easy to follow.

Must read if you plan to travel across South America and seek an understanding of the history of the continent.

[Mr O · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book in every way!

This book is beautifully written, exploring a continent that, though I’ve visited a few times, I realised I had no idea about. The travel style writing makes it so much more accessible than any traditional history book - cannot recommend enough. Thank you to the author for bringing this delight into the world.

[Seb Calvert · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazingly written panoramic pop history. as someone who didn't know much at all about south american history, this was a great place to start. blair is excellent at prose to boot.

p.s. kudos to bro for not letting some journalistic ethical code stop him from helping a refugee family carry they heavy packs along the darién trail. you're a real one

[Ailén de los Heros · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blair does a wonderful job of bringing the past into dialogue with the present, and in doing so achieves what so many historians strive for: making a real impact. If you’re interested in the history of South America—or just want to dive into a book that’s compelling, beautifully written, and deeply researched—this one is a must-read.

[Dr Howard · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn’t finish it, gave up after a couple of chapters. Just found it too boring, uninteresting ( for me) and thought I could spend my time better reading something more to my liking. I bought book following so many positive reviews and was looking forward to reading it-so disappointing.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5

[Hannah Bushaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having studied Latin America at university, I didn’t realise how much I didn’t know. Such amazing untold histories that fascinate and stimulate thought about the past, present and future.

[Duran Dielissen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book where all the lost tales of great South American countries and regions are described. The writer takes you along his journey through the countries and gives refreshing insights on this great continent that is clearly being overlooked by the modern day world.

[Anton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A striking, passionate book that offers a fresh perspective on the South American continent and provides general readers with a new view of its multi-layered complexity. I really enjoyed the hybrid format, which combines travelogue, meticulous historical research, and a touch of magic - inevitable when describing this continent. A great read!