Castro Hype, 09 Nov 2006
I have read a few biographies on the legend in order to try and find the man behind. This book did little for me in terms of that goal. It is more like Fidel Castro is putting him up for sainthood! A light read which passed the time but left you feeling that it could have been a whole lot more.

Perhaps a greater insight into the author than the subject., 19 Feb 2001
This book is a great read and leaves the reader with an insight into both Che Guevara and Fidel Castro. The book is a collection of speeches and interviews that Fidel gave between 1965 and 1987. The 1st chapter is a speech given by Fidel concerning rumors of why Che had left Cuba, the 2nd is a speech made a couple of years later following the rumors of Che's death, the third is from a month later which is Fidels memorial speech, the 4th concerns Che's Bolivian diary, the 5th is in Chile after an inviation from Allende, the 6th is an interview with an Italian journalist 20 years after Che died and the 7th (and final) is Fidel's speech to the Cuban people on the 20th anniversary of Che's death.This format is an interesting one though sometimes the propaganda dosage felt to be a major component. The style of writing is very emotive and subjective. Another great point of the book is the photographs, especially the one of Che in disguise as he left for Bolivia. I definately finished feeling inspired to read more about Che Guevara and Fidel Castro.

Looking back on the life of his revolutionary comrade Che Guevara in his introduction to the Bolivian Diary, Fidel Castro claims that "rarely, if ever, in history has one man's image, name and example spread so rapidly and so completely". Ernesto Guevara de la Sema is the ultimate revolutionary, an icon who spawned a million T-shirts, and whose death in 1967 whilst fermenting revolution in Bolivia enshrined him as a martyr of the radical Left. In his short life Che Guevara led military revolutions in Mexico, the Congo and, most famously, Cuba, before heading to Bolivia in 1966 to establish a guerrilla movement in an attempt to overthrow the Bolivian military dictatorship.

His Bolivian Diary, first published in Cuba in 1968, is the remarkable and ultimately tragic first-hand account of Che's formation of a tiny band of revolutionaries, his attempt to proselytise the local peasants, his skirmishes with the Bolivian army, and his final shootout and cold-blooded execution at the hands of the military in October 1967. Stripped of the romantic idealism usually associated with Che, the diary is a sobering account of the drudgery, fear and monotony of guerrilla warfare. Much of the diary is taken up with the preoccupations of basic survival in the primitive conditions of the Bolivian mountains, whilst playing a tense and often ineffective game of hit and run with the Bolivian army. There are some wonderful moments, such as Che breaking off from military preparations to remember that, "I must write some letters to Sartre and Bertrand Russell..." or commandeering a jeep and running it on the urine of his guerrillas. Ultimately this is a tough, uncompromising portrait of a ruthlessly disciplined and single-minded man, relishing a conflict which "gives us the opportunity to turn ourselves into revolutionaries, the highest state of the human species". --Jerry Brotton

Castro Hype, 09 Nov 2006
I have read a few biographies on the legend in order to try and find the man behind. This book did little for me in terms of that goal. It is more like Fidel Castro is putting him up for sainthood! A light read which passed the time but left you feeling that it could have been a whole lot more.

Perhaps a greater insight into the author than the subject., 19 Feb 2001
This book is a great read and leaves the reader with an insight into both Che Guevara and Fidel Castro. The book is a collection of speeches and interviews that Fidel gave between 1965 and 1987. The 1st chapter is a speech given by Fidel concerning rumors of why Che had left Cuba, the 2nd is a speech made a couple of years later following the rumors of Che's death, the third is from a month later which is Fidels memorial speech, the 4th concerns Che's Bolivian diary, the 5th is in Chile after an inviation from Allende, the 6th is an interview with an Italian journalist 20 years after Che died and the 7th (and final) is Fidel's speech to the Cuban people on the 20th anniversary of Che's death.This format is an interesting one though sometimes the propaganda dosage felt to be a major component. The style of writing is very emotive and subjective. Another great point of the book is the photographs, especially the one of Che in disguise as he left for Bolivia. I definately finished feeling inspired to read more about Che Guevara and Fidel Castro.

Insights into the man, the guerilla, 13 Nov 2007
Che excites debate. His image, his actions, his reputation and his motivations are still argued over forty years after his death in 1967. Even the authenticity of these diaries was questioned when first published in Cuba, after all, how did they survive, when their author didn't?

We all know the ending Che was shot by the CIA backed Bolivian military - it sounds sinister, but weren't all South American military backed by the CIA in the Sixties. They record Che's last campaign, fought in the Bolivian cloud forests they tell a story of the mundanity of a guerilla fighter's life. They could be the diaries of a lieutenant, in any one of several modern wars, leading a company of men in enemy territory with only their wits to survive. There is plenty of mud, near misses, misfortune and the leader's concerns about how to hold together a group of unsupported, under-fed and increasingly depleted fighters, whilst surrounded by hostile forces and local people who don't understand or are unsympathetic to their presence.

What sets the book apart is the insights it gives into the mind of Che, what made him tick, what drove him on. He emerges as a fighter with a cause, a man who knew what he believed in, was willing to kill for it and ultimately die for it. For me Che comes across as neither hero, nor villain, just a man fighting for a cause, his folly was few others in Bolivia shared it with him. Che was killed by the logistical failings of his guerilla campaign, combined with a lack of support from the people touched by it. Che is clear about these failings in the diaries and it's a measure of the man that despite them he continued to fight for what he believed.


A must., 24 Apr 2003
For those of us not used to reading historical accounts & text books (at least since our student days) or anyone who his only a reader of novels, this isn't the easiest of books to pick up & read. However as a text and historical dicument about one of the most compelling and magical figures of modern history, this book is an absolute must.
I recently visited Cuba and was fascinated by the imagery and importance attached to Che. It was this visit and the obvious profound effect that this man had on an entire culture that kindled my desire to learn more.
I would suggest to anyone to read a bigraphy first, but the tale of suffering, sacrifice, bravery and commitment told through Che's eye's puts the whole story into focus. Well worth the read for anyone interested in the man.

A Great Book on a Great Man, 21 Feb 2001
This book was f a n tastic. I was recommended it by my friens Sean and Brett. They read it and liked it so much that they bought motorbikes and che guevara hats. I respect Che guevara very much because I don't think I could do a revolution myself

An insight into the mind of a twentieth century icon., 15 Nov 2000
This diary is both an important historical document and an insight into the mind of a twentieth century icon. After his failure in the Congo, Major Ernesto Guevara was determined to suceed in his native South America. He was doomed to failure from the start. His diary shows the terrible hardships endured by him and his revolutionaries. From illness and starvation, to the deaths of comrades and friends, Che's diary documents it all. A mixture of the emotional and the ordinary. Che Guevara was assassinated by the CIA backed Bolivian army; but his death was only the beginning of the legend. Although this version doesn't include the diaries of Che's comrades it remains a must for all those wishing to find the real Che Guevara.

Castro Hype, 09 Nov 2006
I have read a few biographies on the legend in order to try and find the man behind. This book did little for me in terms of that goal. It is more like Fidel Castro is putting him up for sainthood! A light read which passed the time but left you feeling that it could have been a whole lot more.

Perhaps a greater insight into the author than the subject., 19 Feb 2001
This book is a great read and leaves the reader with an insight into both Che Guevara and Fidel Castro. The book is a collection of speeches and interviews that Fidel gave between 1965 and 1987. The 1st chapter is a speech given by Fidel concerning rumors of why Che had left Cuba, the 2nd is a speech made a couple of years later following the rumors of Che's death, the third is from a month later which is Fidels memorial speech, the 4th concerns Che's Bolivian diary, the 5th is in Chile after an inviation from Allende, the 6th is an interview with an Italian journalist 20 years after Che died and the 7th (and final) is Fidel's speech to the Cuban people on the 20th anniversary of Che's death.This format is an interesting one though sometimes the propaganda dosage felt to be a major component. The style of writing is very emotive and subjective. Another great point of the book is the photographs, especially the one of Che in disguise as he left for Bolivia. I definately finished feeling inspired to read more about Che Guevara and Fidel Castro.

Insights into the man, the guerilla, 13 Nov 2007
Che excites debate. His image, his actions, his reputation and his motivations are still argued over forty years after his death in 1967. Even the authenticity of these diaries was questioned when first published in Cuba, after all, how did they survive, when their author didn't?

We all know the ending Che was shot by the CIA backed Bolivian military - it sounds sinister, but weren't all South American military backed by the CIA in the Sixties. They record Che's last campaign, fought in the Bolivian cloud forests they tell a story of the mundanity of a guerilla fighter's life. They could be the diaries of a lieutenant, in any one of several modern wars, leading a company of men in enemy territory with only their wits to survive. There is plenty of mud, near misses, misfortune and the leader's concerns about how to hold together a group of unsupported, under-fed and increasingly depleted fighters, whilst surrounded by hostile forces and local people who don't understand or are unsympathetic to their presence.

What sets the book apart is the insights it gives into the mind of Che, what made him tick, what drove him on. He emerges as a fighter with a cause, a man who knew what he believed in, was willing to kill for it and ultimately die for it. For me Che comes across as neither hero, nor villain, just a man fighting for a cause, his folly was few others in Bolivia shared it with him. Che was killed by the logistical failings of his guerilla campaign, combined with a lack of support from the people touched by it. Che is clear about these failings in the diaries and it's a measure of the man that despite them he continued to fight for what he believed.


A must., 24 Apr 2003
For those of us not used to reading historical accounts & text books (at least since our student days) or anyone who his only a reader of novels, this isn't the easiest of books to pick up & read. However as a text and historical dicument about one of the most compelling and magical figures of modern history, this book is an absolute must.
I recently visited Cuba and was fascinated by the imagery and importance attached to Che. It was this visit and the obvious profound effect that this man had on an entire culture that kindled my desire to learn more.
I would suggest to anyone to read a bigraphy first, but the tale of suffering, sacrifice, bravery and commitment told through Che's eye's puts the whole story into focus. Well worth the read for anyone interested in the man.

A Great Book on a Great Man, 21 Feb 2001
This book was f a n tastic. I was recommended it by my friens Sean and Brett. They read it and liked it so much that they bought motorbikes and che guevara hats. I respect Che guevara very much because I don't think I could do a revolution myself

An insight into the mind of a twentieth century icon., 15 Nov 2000
This diary is both an important historical document and an insight into the mind of a twentieth century icon. After his failure in the Congo, Major Ernesto Guevara was determined to suceed in his native South America. He was doomed to failure from the start. His diary shows the terrible hardships endured by him and his revolutionaries. From illness and starvation, to the deaths of comrades and friends, Che's diary documents it all. A mixture of the emotional and the ordinary. Che Guevara was assassinated by the CIA backed Bolivian army; but his death was only the beginning of the legend. Although this version doesn't include the diaries of Che's comrades it remains a must for all those wishing to find the real Che Guevara.

A thoroughly enjoyable read, 05 Dec 2007
I actually bought this book for my father who is planning a trip to Peru but on reading through the first few pages I was compelled to read it all and let my father wait for his present! I wouldn't normally be drawn to "history books" but rather than a factual account of the demise of the Incas, this historical novel really brings the events to life and really caught my imagination. My knowledge of the conquest of the Incas was limited before reading this book and I was fascinated to learn how such a small number of Spaniards, sanctioned by the Catholic church, overthrew a great civilisation in pursuit of gold and souls.
This book led to great discussions between my father and I once I finally gave him his present!
I would recommend this book not just to people interested in history in general or in the Incas but to anyone looking for a good read over the holidays for it's as gripping a drama as you'll get!

A Phenomenal Read, 21 Nov 2007
If you want to read about the conquest of the Incas, one of the two biggest epic stories in the Americas (the other being Cortes' conquest of the Aztecs, then you really only have two choices: John Hemming's The Conquest of the Incas, and Kim MacQuarrie's The Last Days of the Incas. Hemming's book was published in 1970, thus recent discoveries in Peru during the last four decades are missing--and a lot has happened. It is a very detailed book with lots of footnotes and research, however, it was written by an academic and is average in writing quality. There is thus no attempt in Hemming's book to bring the characters to life, or even to tell their full stories. MacQuarrie's book, on the other hand, was published in 2007 and thus is very up-to-date. You'll learn about recent and important discoveries in 1999 and 2001, how Machu Picchu figured into the conquest and was discovered, and so on. But what really sets it apart from any other book on Inca history is the writing quality. The Last Days of the Incas is really a phenomenal read, the best that I've come across, period. Not since William Prescott's The Conquest of Peru (published in 1847 and a big best seller in its time, but now very outdated) has anyone achieved what MacQuarrie has achieved, bringing the conquest of the Incas back to life. The Last Days of the Incas is not only well researched and up-to-date, but the book is an amazing page-turner. Once you pick it up, you won't be able to put it down. The author really succeeds in recreating Pizarro and his conquistadors and the various Inca emperors as full, three-dimensional characters. In sum, if you want to transport yourself in a time machine back to the 16th century in Peru and feel what it was like to be a participant in the sprawling epic that was the conquest of the Inca civilization, there's only one book to get: The Last Days of the Incas. Its a real tour de force.

A very enlightening Book, 19 Nov 2007
HIstorical Books were never my cup of tea but the Inca Empire has been in the news alot lately and I was curious to find out more about it hence I bought and read Last Days of the Incas. I was absolutely delighted I found it informative, interesting and easy to read which was great as I imagined books with this type of content would be heavy going. Kim Mac Quarrie's research was second to none and it has left me with the desire to go to Peru myself and see some of these sights

I couldn't put it down..., 25 Jul 2007
Planning my first trip to Peru I purchased a copy of "The Last Days of the Incas" after reading a review in the newspaper. I wasn't disappointed. Kim MacQuarrie's prose brings what is one of the most exciting stories that has ever occurred in the Americas to life in vivid and startling detail. Once I began reading the book, I literally was unable to put it down. Not only does "The Last Days of the Incas" bring the conquest to life, but it also includes chapters on the modern discoveries of Inca ruins in Peru, and also explains how Machu Picchu (a must see) fits into the history of the Inca Empire. This book does an amazing job of placing you at the heart of the conquest. Francisco Pizarro and his four brothers come completely to life as do a colorful assortment of other Inca and Spanish characters. You'll feel the sharp wind in the Andes whipping round your legs, the buzz of bullets from harquebusiers whizzing by your ears as you experience the valiant and brave efforts of the rebel Inca emperor, Manco Inca, struggle against all odds to hold onto his empire. If you are going on vacation to Peru or South America, or just want to experience an amazing and epic story first hand, then I can't recommend this book enough. Really extraordinary.

A rollercoaster Read, 18 Jul 2007
Before I read this book, my knowledge of the Inca Empire was limited to a vague notion that they once had a great civilization that was quickly destroyed by a small bunch of Spaniards. I had no idea of the blood curdling drama that awaited me. Kim MacQuarrie's book is a riveting, thrill a minute tale written with such a skillful combination of elegant restraint and high stakes immediacy that I couldn't wait to get to the next chapter and on some occasions, (like when Manco Inca first mobilized the Incas into rebellion to name but one example), I had to remind myself to exhale. Right up to the end, I was willing the Incas to prevail, all the while knowing that their days were numbered. The fact that all the issues it so painstakingly and beautifully brings to the surface are scarily relevant to today's world does the book no disservice either. Read it.

Castro Hype, 09 Nov 2006
I have read a few biographies on the legend in order to try and find the man behind. This book did little for me in terms of that goal. It is more like Fidel Castro is putting him up for sainthood! A light read which passed the time but left you feeling that it could have been a whole lot more.

Perhaps a greater insight into the author than the subject., 19 Feb 2001
This book is a great read and leaves the reader with an insight into both Che Guevara and Fidel Castro. The book is a collection of speeches and interviews that Fidel gave between 1965 and 1987. The 1st chapter is a speech given by Fidel concerning rumors of why Che had left Cuba, the 2nd is a speech made a couple of years later following the rumors of Che's death, the third is from a month later which is Fidels memorial speech, the 4th concerns Che's Bolivian diary, the 5th is in Chile after an inviation from Allende, the 6th is an interview with an Italian journalist 20 years after Che died and the 7th (and final) is Fidel's speech to the Cuban people on the 20th anniversary of Che's death.This format is an interesting one though sometimes the propaganda dosage felt to be a major component. The style of writing is very emotive and subjective. Another great point of the book is the photographs, especially the one of Che in disguise as he left for Bolivia. I definately finished feeling inspired to read more about Che Guevara and Fidel Castro.

Insights into the man, the guerilla, 13 Nov 2007
Che excites debate. His image, his actions, his reputation and his motivations are still argued over forty years after his death in 1967. Even the authenticity of these diaries was questioned when first published in Cuba, after all, how did they survive, when their author didn't?

We all know the ending Che was shot by the CIA backed Bolivian military - it sounds sinister, but weren't all South American military backed by the CIA in the Sixties. They record Che's last campaign, fought in the Bolivian cloud forests they tell a story of the mundanity of a guerilla fighter's life. They could be the diaries of a lieutenant, in any one of several modern wars, leading a company of men in enemy territory with only their wits to survive. There is plenty of mud, near misses, misfortune and the leader's concerns about how to hold together a group of unsupported, under-fed and increasingly depleted fighters, whilst surrounded by hostile forces and local people who don't understand or are unsympathetic to their presence.

What sets the book apart is the insights it gives into the mind of Che, what made him tick, what drove him on. He emerges as a fighter with a cause, a man who knew what he believed in, was willing to kill for it and ultimately die for it. For me Che comes across as neither hero, nor villain, just a man fighting for a cause, his folly was few others in Bolivia shared it with him. Che was killed by the logistical failings of his guerilla campaign, combined with a lack of support from the people touched by it. Che is clear about these failings in the diaries and it's a measure of the man that despite them he continued to fight for what he believed.


A must., 24 Apr 2003
For those of us not used to reading historical accounts & text books (at least since our student days) or anyone who his only a reader of novels, this isn't the easiest of books to pick up & read. However as a text and historical dicument about one of the most compelling and magical figures of modern history, this book is an absolute must.
I recently visited Cuba and was fascinated by the imagery and importance attached to Che. It was this visit and the obvious profound effect that this man had on an entire culture that kindled my desire to learn more.
I would suggest to anyone to read a bigraphy first, but the tale of suffering, sacrifice, bravery and commitment told through Che's eye's puts the whole story into focus. Well worth the read for anyone interested in the man.

A Great Book on a Great Man, 21 Feb 2001
This book was f a n tastic. I was recommended it by my friens Sean and Brett. They read it and liked it so much that they bought motorbikes and che guevara hats. I respect Che guevara very much because I don't think I could do a revolution myself

An insight into the mind of a twentieth century icon., 15 Nov 2000
This diary is both an important historical document and an insight into the mind of a twentieth century icon. After his failure in the Congo, Major Ernesto Guevara was determined to suceed in his native South America. He was doomed to failure from the start. His diary shows the terrible hardships endured by him and his revolutionaries. From illness and starvation, to the deaths of comrades and friends, Che's diary documents it all. A mixture of the emotional and the ordinary. Che Guevara was assassinated by the CIA backed Bolivian army; but his death was only the beginning of the legend. Although this version doesn't include the diaries of Che's comrades it remains a must for all those wishing to find the real Che Guevara.

A thoroughly enjoyable read, 05 Dec 2007
I actually bought this book for my father who is planning a trip to Peru but on reading through the first few pages I was compelled to read it all and let my father wait for his present! I wouldn't normally be drawn to "history books" but rather than a factual account of the demise of the Incas, this historical novel really brings the events to life and really caught my imagination. My knowledge of the conquest of the Incas was limited before reading this book and I was fascinated to learn how such a small number of Spaniards, sanctioned by the Catholic church, overthrew a great civilisation in pursuit of gold and souls.
This book led to great discussions between my father and I once I finally gave him his present!
I would recommend this book not just to people interested in history in general or in the Incas but to anyone looking for a good read over the holidays for it's as gripping a drama as you'll get!

A Phenomenal Read, 21 Nov 2007
If you want to read about the conquest of the Incas, one of the two biggest epic stories in the Americas (the other being Cortes' conquest of the Aztecs, then you really only have two choices: John Hemming's The Conquest of the Incas, and Kim MacQuarrie's The Last Days of the Incas. Hemming's book was published in 1970, thus recent discoveries in Peru during the last four decades are missing--and a lot has happened. It is a very detailed book with lots of footnotes and research, however, it was written by an academic and is average in writing quality. There is thus no attempt in Hemming's book to bring the characters to life, or even to tell their full stories. MacQuarrie's book, on the other hand, was published in 2007 and thus is very up-to-date. You'll learn about recent and important discoveries in 1999 and 2001, how Machu Picchu figured into the conquest and was discovered, and so on. But what really sets it apart from any other book on Inca history is the writing quality. The Last Days of the Incas is really a phenomenal read, the best that I've come across, period. Not since William Prescott's The Conquest of Peru (published in 1847 and a big best seller in its time, but now very outdated) has anyone achieved what MacQuarrie has achieved, bringing the conquest of the Incas back to life. The Last Days of the Incas is not only well researched and up-to-date, but the book is an amazing page-turner. Once you pick it up, you won't be able to put it down. The author really succeeds in recreating Pizarro and his conquistadors and the various Inca emperors as full, three-dimensional characters. In sum, if you want to transport yourself in a time machine back to the 16th century in Peru and feel what it was like to be a participant in the sprawling epic that was the conquest of the Inca civilization, there's only one book to get: The Last Days of the Incas. Its a real tour de force.

A very enlightening Book, 19 Nov 2007
HIstorical Books were never my cup of tea but the Inca Empire has been in the news alot lately and I was curious to find out more about it hence I bought and read Last Days of the Incas. I was absolutely delighted I found it informative, interesting and easy to read which was great as I imagined books with this type of content would be heavy going. Kim Mac Quarrie's research was second to none and it has left me with the desire to go to Peru myself and see some of these sights

I couldn't put it down..., 25 Jul 2007
Planning my first trip to Peru I purchased a copy of "The Last Days of the Incas" after reading a review in the newspaper. I wasn't disappointed. Kim MacQuarrie's prose brings what is one of the most exciting stories that has ever occurred in the Americas to life in vivid and startling detail. Once I began reading the book, I literally was unable to put it down. Not only does "The Last Days of the Incas" bring the conquest to life, but it also includes chapters on the modern discoveries of Inca ruins in Peru, and also explains how Machu Picchu (a must see) fits into the history of the Inca Empire. This book does an amazing job of placing you at the heart of the conquest. Francisco Pizarro and his four brothers come completely to life as do a colorful assortment of other Inca and Spanish characters. You'll feel the sharp wind in the Andes whipping round your legs, the buzz of bullets from harquebusiers whizzing by your ears as you experience the valiant and brave efforts of the rebel Inca emperor, Manco Inca, struggle against all odds to hold onto his empire. If you are going on vacation to Peru or South America, or just want to experience an amazing and epic story first hand, then I can't recommend this book enough. Really extraordinary.

A rollercoaster Read, 18 Jul 2007
Before I read this book, my knowledge of the Inca Empire was limited to a vague notion that they once had a great civilization that was quickly destroyed by a small bunch of Spaniards. I had no idea of the blood curdling drama that awaited me. Kim MacQuarrie's book is a riveting, thrill a minute tale written with such a skillful combination of elegant restraint and high stakes immediacy that I couldn't wait to get to the next chapter and on some occasions, (like when Manco Inca first mobilized the Incas into rebellion to name but one example), I had to remind myself to exhale. Right up to the end, I was willing the Incas to prevail, all the while knowing that their days were numbered. The fact that all the issues it so painstakingly and beautifully brings to the surface are scarily relevant to today's world does the book no disservice either. Read it.

Detailed and well researched, 26 Dec 2007
The war fought by Bolivia and Paraguay for the Gran Chaco between 1932 and 1935 is little known in North America and unknown in Europe.

It was a conflict fought with great savagery in, and for, a wasteland and cost 88,000 lives, indeed 25% of the victorious Paraguayan army were killed! Yet it has lessons for the 21st Century in the greater importance of leadership than reliance upon technology and it greatly influenced social development in Bolivia which is currently one of Venezuela's closest friends making a new account long overdue.

Europe's foremost expert on Latin America's armed forces, Adrian J. English, has taken up the task to produce an account worthy of the combatants although he admits it was one of the most futile wars in history. Mr English, who met many of the combatants and clearly benefits from their knowledge, deftly explores the geographic and political background to the conflict then leads the reader through the operations while sketching out the diplomatic and political background.

Personal accounts, which tend to dominate so many modern military histories, are avoided and perhaps there might have been a little more on the background and personality of some of the key characters. Yet this is the only criticism and the chapter are well written, each with little headings describing the contents which younger readers might regard as old-fashioned but provide a guide through the complexities as fortune swung first one way and then the other.

Mr English clearly shows how, and why, victory went to Paraguay which was poorer but whose society was more cohesive. The country's military leadership was more professional and adapted more rapidly to the demanding conditions of the conflict, frequently outmanoeuvring their enemies in operations reminiscent of Finland's Winter War four years later.

By contrast the stronger and better-equipped Bolivian forces were compromised by a divided society and a military leadership which was largely incompetent, indeed the only time it worked efficiently was in a coup against the president! Yet they remained stubbornly committed to the war and in the many instances of trench warfare fought bravely.

Essentially, 'The Green Hell' is a very detailed sketch of the Chaco War but it provides all the military background that any reader could desire and once started is very difficult to put down.