Historia de Bolivia. (History of Bolivia)

By staff -- Críticas, 12/15/2007

This slim volume outlines the history of one of the countries frequently in the headlines of Latin American and U.S. news outlets. Crafted by a Bolivian author of short stories and novels, the book is formatted as a Q&A session on Bolivian history. It contains 13 chapters covering developments in Bolivia, from pre-Colombian times to the present. Chapters 1-4 firmly anchor Bolivian history in indigenous cultures, and the author introduces topics related to the European arrival in the Americas in Chapter 5. Subsequent chapters cover everything from the crisis in Spain’s colonies to guerrilla movements and democratization in the 20th century. Despite the wide range of history covered, the book reads easily and features language that is familiar and even conversational in parts. Terms that might be obscure are explained in simple clauses or parenthetical interruptions in the text. Both language and style make the book highly accessible to readers with a curiosity about Bolivia but little familiarity or patience for historical treatises. This book is suitable for a broad public rather than a scholarly audience. Recommended for public and academic libraries.—Laura Barbas-Rhoden, Wofford Coll., Spartanburg, SC