Open veins of Latin America: five centuries of the pillage of a continent

Eduardo H. Galeano

Monthly Review Press, 1997 - Business & Economics - 317 pages

Since its U.S. debut a quarter-century ago, this brilliant text has set a new standard for historical scholarship of Latin America. It is also an outstanding political economy, a social and cultural narrative of the highest quality, and perhaps the finest description of primitive capital accumulation since Marx. Rather than chronology, geography, or political successions, Eduardo Galeano has organized the various facets of Latin American history according to the patterns of five centuries of exploitation. Thus he is concerned with gold and silver, cacao and cotton, rubber and coffee, fruit, hides and wool, petroleum, iron, nickel, manganese, copper, aluminum ore, nitrates, and tin. These are the veins which he traces through the body of the entire continent, up to the Rio Grande and throughout the Caribbean, and all the way to their open ends where they empty into the coffers of wealth in the United States and Europe. Weaving fact and imagery into a rich tapestry, Galeano fuses scientific analysis with the passions of a plundered and suffering people. An immense gathering of materials is framed with a vigorous style that never falters in its command of themes. All readers interested in great historical, economic, political, and social writing will find a singular analytical achievement, and an overwhelming narrative that makes history speak, unforgettably. This classic is now further honored by Isabel Allende's inspiring introduction. Universally recognized as one of the most important writers of our time, Allende once again contributes her talents to literature, to political principles, and to enlightenment.

What people are saying

Review: Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent

User Review  - Raheel - Goodreads

A monumental work on the history of an often misunderstood continent. The book chronicles centuries of pillage of Latin Americas boundless resources from Conquistadors to the IMF.The reader is struck ...

Review: Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent

User Review  - Socki - Goodreads

This book is an Essential read for anyone interested in Latin American history and politics. I emphasize essential. One of the best.

Contents

• MANKINDS POVERTY AS A CONSEQUENCE: 9
• King Sugar and Other Agricultural Monarchs: 59
• The Invisible Sources of Power: 134

About the author

Eduardo Galeano, one of Latin America's most distinguished writers, journalists, and historians, is the author of the "Memory of Fire" trilogy (winner of the 1989 American Book Award), "Open Veins of Latin America," and many other works. He lives in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Open veins of Latin America: five centuries of the pillage of a continent
• Author: Eduardo H. Galeano
• Edition: 25, annotated
• Publisher: Monthly Review Press, 1997
• Original from: the University of California
• Digitized: Aug 22, 2008
• ISBN: 0853459916, 9780853459910
• Length: 317 pages
• Subjects: Business & Economics / Economic Conditions; Capitalism; History / General; History / Latin America / General; Latin America; Latin America - Economic conditions