Chasteen captivates his readers with extraordinary storytelling, expertly exposing the complexities of a diverse
region peopled by such fascinating characters as Cortés, Eva and Juan Perón, Malinché, Sister
Inor Suaréz, Bolivar, and Che Guevara.
Integrative approach:
Rather than present piecemeal histories, Chasteen focuses on the major events of Latin America's three largest
countries-Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina-and includes details from seventeen other countries to develop important
themes. Working within a chronological framework, he successfully incorporates the histories of individual countries
into the history of a region, providing students with the necessary foundation for deeper study.
Current scholarship:
Born in Blood and Fire embraces contemporary scholarship, identifying race, class, and gender as the principal
issues in the Latin American experience and recognizing the complex relationship between sociocultural, political,
and economic forces.
Table of Contents
I First Stop, The Present Countercurrents: A Statistical Portrait
II Encounter Countercurrents: Friar Bartolome de las Casas
III Colonial Crucible Countercurrents: Colonial Rebellions
IV Independence Countercurrents: The Gaze of Outsiders
V Postcolonial Blues Countercurrents: The Power of Outsiders
VI Progress Countercurrents: More International Wars
VII Neocolonialism Countercurrents: New Immigration to Latin America
VIII Nationalism
Countercurrents: Popular Leaders of the Twentieth Century
IX Revolution
Countercurrents: Liberation Theology
X Reaction
Countercurrents: La Violencia, Pablo Éscobar, and Colombia's Long Torment
