In the past couple years, I've declined several requests to write book reviews and praise because of the low quality and rather militant, biased, and ahistorical production that seems to be in vogue in my fields of expertise. Historian Alberto Ortiz Díaz's Raising the Living Dead is the exact opposite of those works.
Ortiz Díaz's study is the result of meticulous research, presents modest arguments, and is bolstered by a wealth of archival evidence. It is expertly situated within its historical context, meaningfully interacts with current historiographies, and provides cogent reasoning and flawless analysis. Moreover, it delivers a compelling narrative that skillfully intertwines scholarly discourse and analysis with accessible and empathetic prose.
It would be an understatement to say that Ortiz Díaz has produced a true history from below while providing an unexpectedly refreshing take on the history of rehabilitation correction philosophies and their effects on Puerto Rican and Caribbean...
