Once again Ricardo Donoso has demonstrated his deep understanding of early Chilean history by revising his biography of Antonio José de Irisarri, adopted Chilean, diplomat, polemicist, and revolutionary. In this second edition he has added information derived from recently published documentary series concerning some of Irisarri’s close associates. Donoso interlaces his interesting commentary with letters and documents which serve to develop his subject.
Irisarri was fortunate enough to appear on the scene at a most strategic moment. Born in Central America, he adopted revolution and Chile with equal enthusiasm. Because of his close association with Bernardo O’Higgins, he became the first Chilean diplomatic representative in London. There he tried to secure recognition for the infant republic and a loan to finance some of the programs formulated by the O’Higgins government. Irisarri was eventually successful on both scores, after no end of difficulties, intrigue, and obstacles. With success he received word of the overthrow of the O’Higgins government, resigned his post in London, and began a career best characterized as wandering. Returning to the Americas, he participated in the government of the Union of Central America. After this was destroyed he went back to Chile and his family and lent his services to the regime of Diego Portales, although Irisarri’s close relations with O’Higgins always made him suspect.
What follows is an adventure story. Irisarri was eventually destroyed politically in Chile, and once again he sought residence away from his adopted country and his family, wandering in Ecuador and Colombia and always trying to clear his name of any suspicion of public misconduct. He was never successful and died away from his adopted country, embittered and suspected.
What emerges, nevertheless, is a picture of a fascinating man who was associated with most of the important Latin Americans during the early part of the nineteenth century. The author not only sheds new light on the character of these statesmen but he presents information to clear Irisarri and demonstrate that he was more a victim of partisan politics and his own political errors than anything else.
Donoso has thus performed a valuable service in revising and enlarging this biography. It contains not only important documents but a lengthy bibliography dealing with Irisarri and individuals with whom he had close association. The book is an important addition to the literature on the rather confused early national period of Chilean history.
