Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent by Eduardo Galeano, Cedric Belfrage (Translator), Isabel Allende (Introduction)
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Textbook (Paperback - 25th Anniversary Edition)
- 360pp
- Sales Rank: 4,305
Textbook Information
- ISBN-13: 9780853459910
- Edition Description: 25th Anniversary Edition
- Edition Number: 25
- Pub. Date: January 1997
- Publisher: Monthly Review Press
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Product Details
- Pub. Date: January 1997
- Publisher: Monthly Review Press
- Format: Textbook Paperback, 360pp
- Sales Rank: 4,305
- ISBN-13: 9780853459910
- ISBN: 0853459916
- Edition Number: 25
- Edition Description: 25th Anniversary Edition
Synopsis
Since its U.S. debut a quarter-century ago, this brilliant text has set a new standard for historical scholarship of Latin America. It is also an outstanding political economy, a social and cultural narrative of the highest quality, and perhaps the finest description of primitive capital accumulation since Marx.
Rather than chronology, geography, or political successions, Eduardo Galeano has organized the various facets of Latin American history according to the patterns of five centuries of exploitation. Thus he is concerned with gold and silver, cacao and cotton, rubber and coffee, fruit, hides and wool, petroleum, iron, nickel, manganese, copper, aluminum ore, nitrates, and tin. These are the veins which he traces through the body of the entire continent, up to the Rio Grande and throughout the Caribbean, and all the way to their open ends where they empty into the coffers of wealth in the United States and Europe.
Weaving fact and imagery into a rich tapestry, Galeano fuses scientific analysis with the passions of a plundered and suffering people. An immense gathering of materials is framed with a vigorous style that never falters in its command of themes. All readers interested in great historical, economic, political, and social writing will find a singular analytical achievement, and an overwhelming narrative that makes history speak, unforgettably.
This classic is now further honored by Isabel Allende's inspiring introduction. Universally recognized as one of the most important writers of our time, Allende once again contributes her talents to literature, to political principles, and to enlightenment.
Booknews
First published in 1973 as Las Venas Abiertas de America Latin by Siglo XXI Editores, Mexico, this analysis of the effects and causes of capitalist underdevelopment in Latin America presents a clear, passionate account of 500 years of Latin American history, written with drama, humor, and compassion. For general readers. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.
More Reviews and RecommendationsBiography
EDUARDO GALEANO is the author of Open Veins of Latin America, Memory of Fire Trilogy, Book of Embraces and the forthcoming Upside Down.
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Offers A Very Important Perspectiveby PunkOutlaw
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August 29, 2009: I bought this book with trepidation after it came on my radar screen when Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez gifted it to President Obama when they first met. I had previously visited Venezuela when Chavez was up for "re-election" and was intrigued by the amount of popular support he had among everyday Venezuelans as opposed to my Venezuelan friends who lived here, who essentially fled their country because of Chavez and his policies.
Agree with Chavez or not, this book is a must read for anyone who has ever been curious about the inequality between North and South America and in particular all first and third world societies. I'm naturally drawn to third world countries for some reason and after spending time there, I always ask myself "why are things the way they are?.. when did the U.S. begin dominating the rest of the world economically?.. how can the U.S. be so affluent and our neighbors just to the south be so void of a middle class?"... "Open Veins of Latin America" sheds important insights and history that U.S. citizens are NOT taught in schools or exposed to in any way. While at times, I think the finger pointing and lack of accountability is too much, the author has some excellent insights into how events centuries ago have shaped the world as we know it today. You may, like me, be horrified by the treatment of mankind against his brothers and sisters, all because of greed. There is not much hope given here for things getting better but it may inspire you to try and change things. I know its easy for comfortable middle class citizens in the dawning of the 21st century to look back with disdain at the ethics of our ancestors, whose actions are the very reason some of us live such comfortable lives while others barely make a living wage. Its not easy reading, its sometimes painful to think about the issues covered but the book will most likely change your outlook and possibly how you treat your fellow man day to day. I certainly don't agree with everything the author says, but I do respect the perspective and its one of my top 5 books to recommend to others.Alternative Views of History of The Americasby RSF
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August 15, 2009: This book should be offered as an alternative (perhaps more accurate) view of the history of the Americas.
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