A review by sarahndipity
Silver, Sword, and Stone: Three Crucibles in the Latin American Story by Marie Arana

5.0

My 5-star rating doesn't mean that Arana's analysis is perfect or that she handled the history of Central and South America with particular finesse. She may have, but I am not qualified to judge these things, as I know so little about them. I can say that she obviously knows and loves the places and people about which she has written. However, she has not allowed her view to become romanticized. Over and over she points out the failures and successes, virtues and flaws of people on different sides of various questions. Additionally, her book is logical and tells a coherent story. Her writing is academic but accessible. I want to learn about these cultures, and it feels as though I've started well.