Kirjahaku

This concise biography of the world famous revolutionary Che Guevara provides the most up-to-date and comprehensive account available of his remarkable life, tragic death, and enduring political legacy. Che Guevara is one of the most controversial and iconic figures in recent memory and is still a hero to many. Che Guevara: A Biography provides a balanced and engaging introduction to the famous revolutionary leader. Based on original research, the biography reveals how Che's early life prepared him for leadership in the Cuban Revolution. It also explores his revolutionary activities in Africa and Bolivia, as well as the circumstances surrounding his tragic death on October 9, 1967. More than just a record of events, the book cogently examines Che's contributions to the theory and tactics of guerrilla warfare, his ideas about imperialism and socialism, and his enduring political legacy. It includes original information on the 1997 discovery of the hidden remains of his body and on the celebration of his life and ideals by the socialist regime in Cuba. And it looks at the reasons why leftist political leaders, movements, and governments in Latin America and the Caribbean still pay homage to this charismatic man.

At a time when the validity of Marxism is being questioned because of the collapse of the Communist regimes in Eastern Europe, Richard Harris examines the relevance of Marxism and socialism for Latin America and the Caribbean. Dr. Harris discusses recent revolutionary regimes and attempts at socialist transformation in the region in terms of Marxist theory, comparing them with the historical experiences of the Soviet Union, China, Yugoslavia, and Vietnam. The author argues that Marxist theory offers a framework for understanding recent revolutionary transformations as well as the contradictions and limitations of existing democratic regimes in the region. Particular attention is given to revolutionary Cuba, the Allende administration in Chile, the Popular Revolutionary Government in Grenada, the Sandinista regime in Nicaragua, and contemporary leftist parties and movements throughout Latin America. He contends that democratization and the solution of the region's economic and social problems require a democratic socialist project.

This book demonstrates the extent to which Marxist thought on the transition from capitalism to socialism provides an essential framework for understanding the successes and failures of recent and past attempts to construct democratic socialist societies in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Richard L. Harris includes in this updated edition of Death of a Revolutionary new revelations about Che's revolutionary legacy and discusses the renewed interest in his revolutionary ideas stimulated by the election of leftist governments throughout Latin America. In response to this growing resurgence of interest in Che's life, a feature film directed by Steven Soderbergh, and several documentaries are scheduled for release in late 2007 and 2008. To commemorate Che's life and death many international conferences and events will be held and his iconic image will be seen repeatedly in the mass media. This new edition of Death of a Revolutionary—hailed as "well written, provocative, and fair minded" by Choice—contains the latest information on this charismatic and legendary figure and reveals why he is a hero for millions of people around the world.

Wisdom of the North studies how and for what purposes proverbs were used by the composers of the sagas, thereby demonstrating how awareness of proverbial occurrences in these narratives can enable us to engage in more penetrating literary criticism of these works. The methods offered here have already been applied to the reading of other medieval texts, particularly those originating in societies marked by the presence or persistent influence of preliterate culture.