Puerto Rico's Revolt for Independence: El Grito de Lares

by Olga Jiménez de Wagenheim

This book interprets Puerto Rico’s first and most significant attempt to end its colonial dependence on Spain. Looking at the imperial policies and conditions within Puerto Rico that led to the 1868 rebellion known as El Grito de Lares, the author compares the colonization of Puerto Rico with that of Spanish America and explores why the island’s independence movement began decades after Spain’s other colonies of the region had revolted. Through the extensive use of previously unresearched archival materials of the rebel movement, she corrects many errors found in earlier accounts of the revolt, and offers new interpretations of the movement’s impact on Spanish-Puerto Rican relations.

127 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Over the past several years I have read many books about Spanish colonialism in the Caribbean Islands including several by this author and her husband. There are many English-language books on the 10 year war in Cuba, but this is the only one that I have found that gives a detailed account of the short revolution at Lares. When the events are mentioned there is no detail nor analysis. Wagenheim puts it in perspective. She explains why the events unfolded, who the participants were in detail and even includes first hand accounts of the fighting in Pepino. I am impressed with her research.

I do not recommend this book for anyone looking for a light read. It has a thesis like format and includes a lot of tables, facts and figures. It is, however, ideal for the researcher. I would strongly recommend it to anyone who wants a detailed account of the Puerto Rican revolt in English.

[Andre Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Olga Jiménez de Wagenheim’s Puerto Rico's Revolt for Independence: El Grito de Lares is a meticulously researched and compelling account of one of the most pivotal moments in Puerto Rican history—the 1868 uprising against Spanish colonial rule known as El Grito de Lares. Far from a romanticized retelling, Wagenheim delivers a scholarly yet accessible narrative that situates the revolt within the broader context of imperial policy, colonial resistance, and national identity formation.

The book stands out for its extensive use of previously unresearched archival materials, which allows Wagenheim to correct longstanding inaccuracies and offer fresh interpretations of the rebellion’s causes, participants, and consequences. She explores why Puerto Rico’s independence movement lagged behind other Spanish colonies in Latin America and delves into the socioeconomic backgrounds of the rebels, painting a vivid picture of the human dimensions of the revolt.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its balance between academic rigor and narrative immediacy. Wagenheim doesn’t just recount events—she brings them to life, highlighting the boldness, fear, confusion, and conviction of the individuals involved. Her portrayal of the uprising as both a symbolic and deeply human struggle adds emotional depth to the historical analysis.
Readers looking for a light read may find the book dense, as it includes tables, figures, and a thesis-like structure, but for scholars, students, and anyone deeply interested in Puerto Rican history, it is an invaluable resource. Wagenheim’s work is especially meaningful for those with personal or cultural ties to Lares, as it moves beyond myth to uncover the complex realities of the rebellion.

In sum, El Grito de Lares is not just a study of a failed insurrection—it is a reclamation of Puerto Rican agency and identity, told with clarity, empathy, and scholarly precision.

[Joel Berrocal · Rating 4 out of 5]

My entire family is from Lares, Puerto Rico, so I was always interested in the story of El Grito de Lares. El Grito was the first major revolt against Spanish rule in Puerto Rico and took place in the small rural town of Lares, Puerto Rico. I heard lots of romantic stories from my dad and others in town. A small museum in the pueblo of Lares is almost entirely dedicated to El Grito. But the problem was, that you only ever really heard the romantic, nationalistic reasonings behind the uprising. I had never been able to find a book, that really dug deep into other causes for the revolt. This book was exactly what I was looking for. Through extensive research, the author does a wonderful job to lay out all of the facts and dispels all of the false information that has been spread for the past 150 years. A very short read, the book can be finished in a day or two. Highly recommended!

[Quinnformel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short but thorough read of the events that led to El Grito de Lares and its aftereffects. While the information is enlightening, a review of the revolt’s effect on the national consciousness and how it was woven into the mythos of the island’s history might be more intriguing