History and Society
David Corkill , Ecuador: Fragile Democracy (o/p). A clear and thorough summary of Ecuador's history and economy from the Spanish Conquest to the neoliberalism of the late 1980s. Felix Denegri Luna , Notes for the History of a Frontier (Bolsa de Valores, Lima). Meticulously researched, accessible study of the relationship between Ecuador and Peru, from their days as neighbouring colonial divisions within Spanish America right up to 1995, written by a Peruvian academic in a spirit of promoting mutual understanding and rapprochement . John Hemming , The Conquest of the Incas (Papermac/Harcourt Brace). Marrying an academic attention to detail with a gripping narrative style, Hemming's book is widely regarded as the best account of this devastating conquest. His earlier work, The Search for El Dorado (Michael Joseph; o/p), covers the Spaniards' unquenchable desire for gold that fuelled the Conquest, and pinpoints the origin of the myth of El Dorado, the legendary Golden Man, to 1540s Quito, from where it quickly spread throughout the continent. Anita Isaacs , Military Rule and Transition in Ecuador 1972-92 (University of Pittsburgh Press). Incisive examination of the political actions of the military in Ecuador, and the impact military intervention has had on subsequent civilian governments. Magnus Morner , The Andean Past: Land, Societies, and Conflicts (o/p). Academic but readable study on the historical development of Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia - the three modern-day countries that made up the bulk of the Inca Empire - since the pre-Columbian era. Sarah Radcliffe and Sallie Westwood , Remaking the Nation: Place, Identity and Politics in Latin America (Routledge). A recently published, thought-provoking analysis of the complex and often contradictory factors that inform perceptions of national identity within Latin America, zooming in on Ecuador as a case study. A fascinating insight into the Ecuadorian self-image as influenced by gender, age and social and ethnic background. Wilma Roos and Omer van Renterghem , Ecuador in Focus (Latin America Bureau/Interlink Books). An easy-to-read and relatively up-to-date introduction to Ecuador with short chapters on history, people, environment and economy, and culture.
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