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DREAMS OF THE HEART: The Autobiography of President Violeta Barrios de Chamorro of Nicaragua
"Interesting if self-serving memoir by former president of Nicaragua, 'always guided by the selfless desire to improve the lot of [her] countrymen.' Details workings of non-Sandinista opposition to Somoza through 1979, and conflicts during 1980s between right and Sandinista regime. Accuses opponents after 1990 of 'scurry[ing] to hide under the skirts of the U.S. Congress or White House.'"--Handbook of Latin American Studies, v. 58. president of Nicaragua tells of her struggle to bring peace to her country
352 pages, Hardcover
First published September 23, 1996
27 people want to read
About the author
Violeta Chamorro
2 booksVioleta Barrios Torres de Chamorro was a Nicaraguan politician who served as the 55th President of Nicaragua from 1990 to 1997. She was the first female president in the country. Previously, she was a member of the Junta of National Reconstruction (Spanish: Junta de Gobierno de Reconstrucción Nacional, JGRN) from 1979 to 1980.
Her husband, Pedro Joaquín Chamorro Cardenal, was a journalist working at his family's newspaper, La Prensa, which he later inherited. As a result of his anti-government stance, he was often jailed or exiled, forcing Chamorro to spend a decade following him abroad or visiting him in jail. When he was assassinated in 1978, Chamorro took over the newspaper. Pedro's murder strengthened the Nicaraguan Revolution and his image, as wielded by his widow, became a powerful symbol for the opposition forces.
Initially, when the Sandinistas were victorious over Anastasio Somoza Debayle, Chamorro fully supported them. She agreed to become part of the provisional government established under the Junta of National Reconstruction. However, when the Junta began moving in a more radical direction and signed agreements with the Soviet Union, Chamorro resigned on 19 April 1980 and returned to the newspaper.
Under her direction, La Prensa continued to criticize the government and its policies despite threats and government-forced shutdowns. When Daniel Ortega announced that elections would be held in 1990, Chamorro was selected as the candidate for the opposition group known as the National Opposition Union (Spanish: Unión Nacional Opositora, UNO). This 14-party alliance ranged from conservatives and liberals to communists and because of ideological differences had difficulty in devising any political platform other than a promise to end the war. Despite polls indicating a victory for the incumbent Sandinista President Ortega, Chamorro won the election on 25 February 1990. She was the first elected female head of state in the Americas. She was also the second female to be elected in her own right as a head of government in the Americas, after Prime Minister Eugenia Charles of Dominica.
Chamorro was sworn into office on 25 April 1990. Chamorro's leadership covered six years marked by economic strife and social unrest, but she was able to compromise with rivals, maintain a constitutional regime, re-establish international banking relationships, and end the hyperinflation that had plagued the country for several years.
After leaving office on 10 January 1997, Chamorro worked on several international peace initiatives until poor health forced her to retire from public life.
Her husband, Pedro Joaquín Chamorro Cardenal, was a journalist working at his family's newspaper, La Prensa, which he later inherited. As a result of his anti-government stance, he was often jailed or exiled, forcing Chamorro to spend a decade following him abroad or visiting him in jail. When he was assassinated in 1978, Chamorro took over the newspaper. Pedro's murder strengthened the Nicaraguan Revolution and his image, as wielded by his widow, became a powerful symbol for the opposition forces.
Initially, when the Sandinistas were victorious over Anastasio Somoza Debayle, Chamorro fully supported them. She agreed to become part of the provisional government established under the Junta of National Reconstruction. However, when the Junta began moving in a more radical direction and signed agreements with the Soviet Union, Chamorro resigned on 19 April 1980 and returned to the newspaper.
Under her direction, La Prensa continued to criticize the government and its policies despite threats and government-forced shutdowns. When Daniel Ortega announced that elections would be held in 1990, Chamorro was selected as the candidate for the opposition group known as the National Opposition Union (Spanish: Unión Nacional Opositora, UNO). This 14-party alliance ranged from conservatives and liberals to communists and because of ideological differences had difficulty in devising any political platform other than a promise to end the war. Despite polls indicating a victory for the incumbent Sandinista President Ortega, Chamorro won the election on 25 February 1990. She was the first elected female head of state in the Americas. She was also the second female to be elected in her own right as a head of government in the Americas, after Prime Minister Eugenia Charles of Dominica.
Chamorro was sworn into office on 25 April 1990. Chamorro's leadership covered six years marked by economic strife and social unrest, but she was able to compromise with rivals, maintain a constitutional regime, re-establish international banking relationships, and end the hyperinflation that had plagued the country for several years.
After leaving office on 10 January 1997, Chamorro worked on several international peace initiatives until poor health forced her to retire from public life.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 27, 2023
Fenomenal, la lectura de estas páginas se sentían como estar sentado en una mecedora junto a doña Violeta abriéndonos las puertas de su vida, su historia, creencias, intimidades, felicidades y tristezas. Hasta se podía leer escuchando la voz de nuestra insigne dama de la paz.
En cuanto al contenido, si quieren leer sobre el pensamiento de Pedro Joaquín Chamorro les recomiendo el libro Pedro Joaquin, Juega! de Edmundo Jarquín. Si quieren leer sobre la revolución sandinista, les recomiendo Adios muchachos de Sergio Ramírez. Y si quieren leer sobre el gobierno de doña Violeta, les recomiendo La difícil transición nicaragüense de Antonio Lacayo. Cada uno de esos libros contiene la letra chiquita o los detalles de estos episodios.
Ahora bien, si quiere leer la inspiración o el alma de estos eventos, sin duda se debe leer los sueños del corazón de doña Violeta.
En cuanto al contenido, si quieren leer sobre el pensamiento de Pedro Joaquín Chamorro les recomiendo el libro Pedro Joaquin, Juega! de Edmundo Jarquín. Si quieren leer sobre la revolución sandinista, les recomiendo Adios muchachos de Sergio Ramírez. Y si quieren leer sobre el gobierno de doña Violeta, les recomiendo La difícil transición nicaragüense de Antonio Lacayo. Cada uno de esos libros contiene la letra chiquita o los detalles de estos episodios.
Ahora bien, si quiere leer la inspiración o el alma de estos eventos, sin duda se debe leer los sueños del corazón de doña Violeta.
March 30, 2013
Es uno de los libros mejor escritos que he leído. Es un viaje por la historia de una familia, y a la vez por la historia de un país. Aunque nací y vivo en otro país que no es Nicaragua, como latinoamericano siento que compartimos una historia común. Me recordó mucho lo que yo viví en mi propia familia durante mis años de infancia y primera juventud.
July 12, 2009
Good autobiography of a fascinating woman who as president helped bring peace to Nicaragua after a decade long civil war.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews