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Rating: 
Summary: Great Millitary History
Review: I am surprised it took so long to have a book published in English on this topic.I am equally surprised at the clarity and competence shown by the author in depicting and describing Latin American conflicts. Regardless of the topic, Mr. Scheina writes good military history in a style that is not only excellent, but quite clear and readable. For the first time, I was able to get a feel of what conflicts like the Paraguayan War and the Pacific War were really all about. Although Latin America did not erupt in too many wars during the 20th Century (in which it did suffer the Mexican Revolution and the Chaco War (Paraguay vs Bolivia). The 18th had its share of big ones, like the Paraguayan War (Paraguay vs Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay) and the Pacific War (Peru and Bolivia vs Chile). I was immediately excited to find all these military conflicts available in a readable, concise and understandable style. Reading this book it is easy to get caught up in the frustration, complexities and the agony of third world nations at war. The book not only supplies the flavor of what wars are like when Latin American countries fight each other, but underlines the reality that Latin America is a region, not a country, populated by nations that don't particularly like each other. The book is not only a good history, it is a good read and a valuable reference work. Thank you Mr. Scheina!
Rating:
Summary: A Goldmine for Military History Buffs
Review: This book covers the 19th century wars of Latin America at the campaign level--there are few if any combat experiences of the common soldier included. This is the kind of military history that I like, so it was fine with me. Within this parameter, each chapter gives a clear narrative overview of the war under discussion. The book gives the best short description (about 20 pages worth) of the Mexican-American War that I have ever come across. And I now have an understanding of the Paraguyan War and the War of the Pacific, wars that I had only seen outline accounts of before that were too brief to really get a sense of their flow. In this book there are enough maps and geographical descriptions to go along with the narrative that I got a feeling of almost "being there". The author follows the same format for each chapter. He begins with a sentence or two on what sparked the war, followed by a paragraph or so on necessary background. Then follows the bulk of the chapter and heart of the book--the narrative description of the war. Each chapter concludes with a short section of the author's observations on what the war meant in a broader context. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in Latin America or warfare in general.
Rating:
Summary: Fills in a great gap in history
Review: This wonderful new publication tells the complete story of all of Latin America's Wars. The premise behind this work is simple, no volume exists that documents every conflict in Latin America. Although many books exist on the liberation struggle and a few books exist on the war of the pacific, no thorough scholararly account exists chronicling Latin Americas heretofore unnoticed violent history. From the independence struggle to the early border wars and the breakup of the unified northern countries. Little, or perhaps simply inadequate, coverage is given to the Indian wars, but this is mostly due to the fact that most of the Indians issues had been resolved by the 1810s. The book covers every war from the Mexican American wars and interventions to the wars between Uruguay and Argentina and the war of the triple alliance which almost led to the extinction of Paraguay. A wonderful text that quickly navigates the struggles. This is not pure military history so although battles are covered this book does not lend itself to studying tactics and strategy, rather this book looks at the causes and affects and high points of the struggles. If you are looking for a blow by blow account of which regiment went where and who turned whose flank, this is not the book. But this is a thorough account and it documents even the smallest conflicts. A must read for anyone interested in Latin America, many people think Latin America has always been peaceful since independence but the truth is the opposite. Seth J. Frantzman
Rating:
Summary: Fills in a great gap in history
Review: This wonderful new publication tells the complete story of all of Latin America's Wars. The premise behind this work is simple, no volume exists that documents every conflict in Latin America. Although many books exist on the liberation struggle and a few books exist on the war of the pacific, no thorough scholararly account exists chronicling Latin Americas heretofore unnoticed violent history. From the independence struggle to the early border wars and the breakup of the unified northern countries. Little, or perhaps simply inadequate, coverage is given to the Indian wars, but this is mostly due to the fact that most of the Indians issues had been resolved by the 1810s. The book covers every war from the Mexican American wars and interventions to the wars between Uruguay and Argentina and the war of the triple alliance which almost led to the extinction of Paraguay. A wonderful text that quickly navigates the struggles. This is not pure military history so although battles are covered this book does not lend itself to studying tactics and strategy, rather this book looks at the causes and affects and high points of the struggles. If you are looking for a blow by blow account of which regiment went where and who turned whose flank, this is not the book. But this is a thorough account and it documents even the smallest conflicts. A must read for anyone interested in Latin America, many people think Latin America has always been peaceful since independence but the truth is the opposite. Seth J. Frantzman
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