Las republicas de aire

Perfectly timed to coincide with the 200th anniversary of Latin America's initial emancipation movements, this book examines the first generation of thinkers, politicians, and philosophers who tried to make sense of the region's liberation from Spain. As the subtitle declares, the joy of newfound freedom soon gave way to bitterness. Simón Bolívar famously complained in his latter days that Latin America was "ungovernable," and most fellow libertadores spent time in exile, brooding about their people's ingratitude. But Rojas's real heroes are intellectuals such as Venezuela's Andrés Bello, Mexico's Fray Servando Teresa de Mier, and Cuba's José María Heredia. They all fought for freedom, led fascinating lives, and eventually despaired as post-colonial Latin America descended into war, sedition, and dictatorships. The book (winner of the first Isabel Polanco International Essay Award) vividly displays the spirited debate of a continent trying to frame its own destiny; republic, monarchy, empire, federalism, centralism—everything was on the table. Rojas, a Mexico-based Cuban historian, highlights the influence of a group of Latin American thinkers in Philadelphia and the huge admiration they held for the United States. A sobering account of Latin America's birth pains, this book has its share of arduous pages, but reading it is worth the effort. An enlightening and completely satisfying work; recommended for both academic and commercial libraries, as well as bookstores.—Carlos Rodríguez Martorell, East Elmhurst, NY