A review by sekerez
Comandante: Hugo Chávez's Venezuela by Rory Carroll

4.0

"Comandante" is a riveting, multi-vocal tale of Hugo Chavez's 13-year rule in Venezuela. The book reads like a mix of thrilling fiction and political analysis, almost carving out a genre of its own. Most reviews have focused on Carroll's beautiful writing and evocative vignettes, but for me personally, the book will most be remembered as capturing a time and a place, even if ultimately filtered through the eyes of a foreign reporter. I think that, despite his (justifiably) scathing criticism, Carroll does an excellent job of humanizing Hugo Chávez, and doesn't hide the fun of his bombastic personality, so much so that I was surprised by how moved I felt toward the end. Lastly, the book offers excellent reflections on the power of the media and polarization, which have evoked new thoughts on leaders as different as Berlusconi and Trump.