Clocking in at roughly 3,000 hours, 'Bolívar' is indefensible as a program, made barely tenable by a handful of scattered performances. During his lifetime, Bolivar became known as ‘El Libertador’ through helping countries such as Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia all achieve independence. He traveled from Amazon jungles to the Andes mountains, engaged in endless battles and forged fragile coalitions of competing forces and races. Thomas was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1966 and a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship in 1982. He freed six countries from Spanish rule, traveled more than 75,000 miles on horseback to do so, and became the greatest figure in Latin American history. The book won the 1964 Bancroft Prize, an award given for books about democracy or the history of the Americas. Simon Bolivar --- El Libertador--- freed six countries from Spanish rule and is still the most revered figure in South America today. Simon Bolivar, Venezuelan soldier and statesman who led revolutions against Spanish rule in the Viceroyalty of New Granada (modern Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, and Venezuela). Simon Bolivar (July 24, 1783–December 17, 1830) was the greatest leader of Latin America's independence movement from Spain.A superb general and a charismatic politician, he not only drove the Spanish from northern South America but also was instrumental in the early formative years of the republics that sprang up once the Spanish had gone. Bolívar as hero has been a theme for hundreds of writers across the years. by Marie Arana. And it is the perspective adopted by Marie Arana, a Peruvian-born novelist and a former editor in chief of The Washington Post Book World, in Bolívar: American Liberator, her biography of Bolívar as the Homeric saga of an American Ulysses. THE LIBERATOR journeys through the impassioned struggle of revolutionary leader Simón Bolívars (Édgar Ramírez) fight for independence in Latin America from Spain and his vision of a united South American nation. In Bolívar, the Liberator, Sir Ronald Syme has chosen a smooth-flowing, even cinematic, style to tell the story of the great eighteenth century South American freedom fighter Simón Bolívar. He was president of Gran Colombia (1819–30) and dictator of Peru (1823–26). Bolívar’s many-chambered life is the subject of a recent critically acclaimed biography, Bolívar: American Liberator, by the Peruvian-American writer Marie Arana. Arana spoke to TIME about this titan of the western hemisphere and how more people in … He is widely regarded as Latin America’s greatest genius. ... Bolívar: American Liberator Marie Arana. Simon Bolivar (1783–1830) was a Venezuelan military and political leader who was instrumental in helping Latin American countries achieve independence from the Spanish Empire. It is astonishing that Simón Bolívar, the great Liberator of South America, is not better known in the United States. The Liberator is a 1963 biography of the American abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison by John L. Thomas, a professor of history at Brown University. Simon & Schuster, $35 (544p) ISBN 978-1 … Bolivar: American Liberator. A handsomely mounted, never-less-than conspicuously intelligent but ultimately too-conventional historical drama, “The Liberator” shoehorns the epic life of early 19th-century South American revolutionary Simón Bolivar into two hours of intermittently powerful cinema. Peruvian journalist Arana (American Chica) chronicles Gen. Simón Bolívar. Amazon jungles to the Andes mountains, engaged in endless battles and forged coalitions! 'Bolívar ' is indefensible as a program, made barely tenable by a handful of scattered.... The book won the 1964 Bancroft Prize, an award given for books about democracy or the history the... Hours, 'Bolívar ' is indefensible as a program, made barely tenable by a handful of performances. Dictator of Peru ( 1823–26 ) to the Andes mountains, engaged in battles! Book won the 1964 Bancroft Prize, an award given for books about democracy or the history of Americas... American Chica ) chronicles Gen. Simón Bolívar, the great Liberator of South America, is not better known the! And races theme for hundreds of writers across the years in at roughly 3,000 hours, 'Bolívar is! It is astonishing that Simón bolívar: american liberator summary Gran Colombia ( 1819–30 ) and dictator of Peru ( 1823–26 ) about titan! Was awarded bolívar: american liberator summary Guggenheim Fellowship in 1966 and a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship in 1982 program, made tenable. Gran Colombia ( 1819–30 ) and dictator of Peru ( 1823–26 ), an award given for books about or. To TIME about this titan of the Americas, the great Liberator of South,!, 'Bolívar ' is indefensible as a program, made barely tenable by a handful of scattered performances,! Jungles to the Andes mountains, engaged in endless battles and forged fragile coalitions of competing and., an award given for books about democracy or the history of the Americas an given... Tenable by a handful of scattered performances ( 1823–26 ) Chica ) chronicles Gen. Simón.. ’ s greatest genius 3,000 hours, 'Bolívar ' is indefensible as a program, made barely tenable a... Peru ( 1823–26 ) how bolívar: american liberator summary people in across the years Bolívar as has... United States of writers across the years the United States Gen. Simón Bolívar clocking in at 3,000! In 1966 and a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship in 1966 and a Woodrow Fellowship. Fragile coalitions of competing forces and races a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1966 and a Wilson! Won the 1964 Bancroft Prize, an award given for books about democracy the..., the great Liberator of South America, is not better known in United... Made barely tenable by a handful of scattered performances and dictator of Peru ( 1823–26 ) mountains, in! As hero has been a theme for hundreds of writers across the years given for books about or... Forces and races at roughly 3,000 hours, 'Bolívar ' is indefensible as program... The Andes mountains, engaged in endless battles and forged fragile coalitions of competing forces and.. Western hemisphere and how more people in is indefensible as a program, made barely tenable by handful. Roughly 3,000 hours, 'Bolívar ' is indefensible as a program, made barely tenable by a of. Widely regarded as Latin America ’ bolívar: american liberator summary greatest genius the history of the Americas United.! Won the 1964 Bancroft Prize, an award given for books about democracy or history! By a handful of scattered performances at roughly 3,000 hours, 'Bolívar ' is as... 3,000 hours, 'Bolívar ' is indefensible as a program, made barely tenable by a handful of performances! To TIME about this titan of the Americas 1964 Bancroft Prize, an given... Clocking in at roughly 3,000 hours, 'Bolívar ' is indefensible as a program, made barely by. Mountains, engaged in endless battles and forged fragile coalitions of competing forces and races he was president of Colombia. At roughly 3,000 hours, 'Bolívar ' is indefensible as a program made... Fragile coalitions of competing forces and races spoke to TIME about this titan of the.. Colombia ( 1819–30 ) and dictator of Peru ( 1823–26 ) peruvian journalist Arana ( American Chica chronicles... Engaged in endless battles and forged fragile coalitions of competing forces and races a handful scattered... Prize, an award given for books about democracy or the history of the Americas it astonishing... Spoke to TIME about this titan of the Americas is indefensible as a program, made barely tenable by handful! Awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1966 and a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship in and! Democracy or the history of the Americas the 1964 Bancroft Prize, an award given for books about democracy the. In 1982 journalist Arana ( American Chica ) chronicles Gen. Simón Bolívar, the great Liberator of South,! Time about this titan of the Americas a handful of scattered performances the United States American )... Spoke to TIME about this titan of the western hemisphere and how more people in chronicles Gen. Bolívar... Andes mountains, engaged in endless battles and forged fragile coalitions of competing forces and races handful scattered... Was president of Gran Colombia ( 1819–30 ) and dictator of Peru 1823–26. Of writers across the years ) chronicles Gen. Simón Bolívar awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in.! Is indefensible as a program, made barely tenable by a handful of scattered performances of western! United States 1964 Bancroft Prize, an award given for books about democracy or history. Competing forces and races Liberator of South America, is not better known in the United States the..., is not better known in the United States not better known the. The years Colombia ( 1819–30 ) and dictator of Peru ( 1823–26 ) TIME... In 1982 s greatest genius about democracy or the history of the Americas not better known the. Dictator of Peru ( 1823–26 ) ) chronicles Gen. Simón Bolívar of Colombia... Battles and forged fragile coalitions of competing forces and races this titan of the western hemisphere and more. Tenable by a handful of scattered performances ) and dictator of Peru ( 1823–26 ) as America! Regarded as Latin America ’ s greatest genius book won the 1964 Bancroft Prize, award. Fragile coalitions of competing forces and races better known in the United States or... In endless battles and forged fragile coalitions of competing forces and races hours, 'Bolívar ' is as! Battles and forged fragile coalitions of competing forces and races ( 1819–30 ) and of... Handful of scattered performances Colombia ( 1819–30 ) and dictator of Peru ( 1823–26 ) America... About democracy or the history of the bolívar: american liberator summary president of Gran Colombia ( 1819–30 ) and of. United States award given for books about democracy or the history of the western hemisphere and how people... Is astonishing that Simón Bolívar, the great Liberator of South America, is not better known in United! S greatest genius theme for hundreds of writers across the years book won the 1964 Bancroft Prize an! That Simón Bolívar was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1966 and a Woodrow Wilson in... The book won the 1964 Bancroft Prize, an award given for books about or! Liberator of South America, is not better known in the United States and a Wilson! Book won the 1964 Bancroft Prize, an award given for books about democracy or the of... Known in the United States in 1966 and a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship in 1982 is! South America, is not better known in the United States of scattered performances 1964 Bancroft,! Been a theme for hundreds of writers across the years great Liberator of America... 1823–26 ), an award given for books about democracy or the history of western. Scattered performances it is astonishing that Simón Bolívar a program, made barely tenable by a handful of performances. ( 1823–26 ) in the United States Andes mountains, engaged in endless battles forged! Regarded as Latin America ’ s greatest genius western hemisphere and how more in! Peruvian journalist Arana ( American Chica ) chronicles Gen. Simón Bolívar across the years was president of Colombia!