The author succeeds admirably in defining and describing the complex phenomenon known as Peronism, as well as the distinctive ethos from which it sprang. He also provides a concise history of Argentina, a biography of Juan Peron (and his comparably mythic wife Evita) and in a postscript reviews events in Argentina since Peron's death in 1974....Crassweller brings Peron into clear focus.

The tomb of Argentina's most-loved leader is invaded, his body desecrated. Government officials receive a demand for $8 million in ransom for the return of Juan Peron's hands. It is signed "Hermes IAI and the 13."Prosecutor Jaime Far Suau is a man of integrity and determination, and he is committed to finding the thieves. Yet at every turn the investigation is plagued by misinformation, red herrings and disappearing witnesses. Then, Far Suau himself dies in a strange automobile accident just when he has renewed his intent to get to the bottom of the crime.Journalists David Cox and Damian Nabot only set out to report the details of the investigation of the theft of Juan Peron's hands, but as they dug into the history of Argentina and the power brokers responsible for it they uncovered a surprising thread that led to a notorious figure whose background in politics, crime and the occult revealed a possible solution to the decades-old mystery. A solution that is as much symbolic as nefarious.

This biography recounting the Argentinean president’s rise, fall, and remarkable return to power is “a formidable achievement” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review). Latin America has produced no more remarkable or enduring political figure than Juan Perón. Born to modest circumstances in 1895 and trained in the military, he rose to power during a period of political uncertainty in Argentina. A shrewd opportunist who understood the needs and aspirations of the country’s workers, Perón rode their votes to the presidency and then increased their share of the nation’s wealth. But he also destroyed the independence of their unions and suppressed dissent. Ousted in a coup in 1955, Perón wandered about Latin America and finally settled in Spain, where he masterminded an astonishing political comeback that climaxed in his reelection as president in 1973. Joseph A. Page’s engrossing biography is based upon interviews, never-before-inspected Argentine and US government documents, and exhaustive research. It spans Perón’s formative years; his arrest and dramatic rescue by the descamisados in 1945; his relationship with the now mythic Evita; the violence and mysterious murders that punctuated his career; his tragic legacy, personified by his third wife, Isabel, who assumed the presidency after his death under the influence of a Rasputin-like astrologer; and the continuing appeal of Perónism in Argentina. In addition, Page’s study of Argentine-American relations is particularly penetrating—especially in its description of the struggle between Perón and US ambassador Spruille Braden. “It would probably take a novel stamped with the surrealistic genius of a Gabriel García Márquez to render all the madness, perverse magic and tragedy of Juan Domingo Perón and his Argentina. But Joseph A. Page has come up with the next best option. . . . A clearly written, definitive study.” —The New York Times Book Review

Argentine Workers provides an insightful analysis of the complex combination of values and attitudes exhibited by workers in a heavily unionized, industrially developing country, while also ascertaining their political beliefs. By analyzing empirical data, Ranis describes what workers think about their unions, employers, private and foreign enterprise, the economy, the state, privatization, landowners, politics, the military, the "dirty war" and the "disappeared," the Montonero guerillas, the church, popular culture and leisure pursuits, and their personal lives and ambitions.

Concerned primarily with the formation of political culture, Plotkin (Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero, Argentina) explores the mechanisms of political consent (both active and passive) used by the authoritarian regime of Juan Domingo Peron to maintain and extend its power. Peronist political imagery and the institutional framework that supported the creation of the "symbolic apparatus" are examined. Going beyond traditional explanations that have concentrated on Peron's support among the organized working class, Plotkin looks into his mobilization of marginal sectors of the population (non-unionized workers, women, and the poor). Translated from the 1993 Spanish- language work. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR.

Although Juan Peron changed the course of modern Argentine history, scholars have often interpreted him in terms of their own ideologies and interests, rather than seeing the effect of this man and his movement had on the Argentine people. The essays in this volume seek to uncover the man behind the myth, to define the true nature of Peronism. Several chapters view Perón's rise to power, his deposition and eighteen-year exile, and his dramatic return in 1973. Others examine: opposing forces in modern Argentina, including the church and its role in politics; the conflict between landed stancieros and urban industrialists, terrorist activities and their populist support base; Peronism and the labor movement; and Evita Perón's role in advancing the political rights of women.

This book presents a tentative assessment of the Argentine leader, Juan Domingo Peron's overall importance in his own country and in the American Hemisphere. It is based largely on the observations of the author on the evolution of Argentina over almost a third of a century.

A solidly researched, persuasive study of the Argentine labour movement which analyses the relationship between Peronism and the Argentine working class.

“This is the most satisfactory study of Rafael Trujillo [1891-1961] yet published. Mr. Crassweller has used printed materials and interviews to reconstruct the life of the Caribbean strongman and his book is not the typical sycophantic panegyric published during Trujillo’s rule or a recapitulation of the worst excesses of his dictatorship. It is a surprisingly well-balanced attempt to understand the man, his motives, and his regime. Trujillo was the product of the United States occupation between 1916 and 1924. Born in humble circumstances in 1891, his career had been inauspicious until he discovered that he might be able to obtain a commission in a new constabulary being formed by the occupation forces... within ten years he was in charge of the nation’s armed forces, and by 1930 he was President. From that time until his death he ruled his country with an iron hand, and the author lucidly shows how he converted it into his own personal estate through political and economic manipulation. A vain man, Trujillo used the vanity of others to achieve his goals. He thought everyone had his price, and all too often he was right. Not only would Dominicans debase themselves in order to receive the dictator’s largesse, but there is evidence, as the author shows, that United States Congressmen and even the Vatican accepted favours from Trujillo. But in his quest for power he made more enemies than friends, and the account of his decline is both informative and dramatic.” — International Journal “Crassweller has produced a superb volume about ‘the man’ in Caribbean politics from the early 1930’s until the rise of Fidel Castro. This portrait of Dominican politics and the ascendancy of Trujillo is chilling in its implications and far surpasses what the average critic of Trujillo imagined. The former dictator is portrayed as a tyrant in the absolute sense operating through a series of clever tactics to intimidate those around him... this volume must stand as an achievement.” — The Review of Politics “[H]ere we have a small miracle... [Crassweller] has produced the best work on Trujillo, the man, and the Dominican Republic, the country, that we have or are likely to get in the years immediately ahead... In scope, the book is both expansive and intimate, paying careful attention to the changing historical circumstances as it concentrates on the personal characteristics and activities.” — The New York Times Book Review “This book deserves to be read: no comparable picture of the Caribbean saga exists in English... a devastating history... This biography of Trujillo may be read as a super-detective story, or as colorful history, or as a commentary on our times. No one starting the book is likely to put it down, and he will be left at the end with a pressing question of how sane, clean, and healthy forces can be made to triumph in this area so vital to the safety of the United States.” — The New York Herald Tribune’s Book Week “This is a remarkable account of a remarkable period in Caribbean history... well-planned and well-written.” — Chicago Tribune “Mr. Crassweller’s account of this power-crazy dictator and his times is a monumental job of historical and biographical research and writing.” — Christian Science Monitor “This biography of Trujillo is by far the best available. In a vivid, very readable style, it presents a mass of information, much of it hardly known, most of it of historical interest... highly recommended as a lively portrait of a fascinating character.” — Caribbean Studies “I suppose everyone has told you what a subtle, elegant and penetrating account you have written of Trujillo. But let me also add my word. This combination of artistry and craftsmanship happens only about once every five years.” — John Kenneth Galbraith