This attractive little book is made to order for undergraduate survey courses in Latin American history. It covers a period not very well represented in the paperback catalog; it deals fairly with the most important and colorful figure of the Independence movement; and, instead of being a mere biography, it places Simón Bolívar securely in the revolutionary setting.
More than most other volumes in Van Nostrand’s Anvil Series, this one strikes an even balance between historical account and illustrative documents, giving Johnson ample space in which to outline prerevolutionary conditions and creole radicalism, together with Bolívar’s contributions as soldier, statesman, political theorist, internationalist, and nationalist. As indeed they should, the readings include the Cartagena manifesto, the Jamaica letter, the Angostura address, and the Bolivian constitution of 1826. Like a hi-fi kit the book provides essential components for a workable understanding of South American independence, together with full directions for assembly. Unlike some kits the directions make sense at first reading.
