Book
Historia de San Martín y de la emancipación sudamericana
📖 Overview
Historia de San Martín y de la emancipación sudamericana is an 1869 biography chronicling the life of José de San Martín, a key figure in South American independence. Written by Bartolomé Mitre, former president of Argentina, this work stands as one of the foundational texts of Argentine historiography.
The book documents San Martín's military campaigns and political career from 1812 to 1822, drawing extensively from personal documents provided by Mariano Balcarce. Mitre conducted research using San Martín's private papers from Europe, incorporating primary sources to construct this detailed account.
The biography emerged during a period when Argentina sought to establish its national identity and define its founding fathers. This text serves as a companion piece to Mitre's earlier biography of Manuel Belgrano, forming part of a larger project to document Argentina's path to independence.
The work represents an intersection of historical scholarship and nation-building, exploring themes of leadership, independence, and the complex relationship between military achievement and political legacy in South America's fight for sovereignty.
👀 Reviews
Readers highlight this biography's meticulous research and extensive use of primary sources to document San Martín's military campaigns. Many note the book provides rich contextual details about the South American independence movements.
Liked:
- Comprehensive coverage of San Martín's life and campaigns
- Well-documented historical sources and citations
- Detailed military strategy explanations
- Maps and visual aids
Disliked:
- Dense, academic writing style can be challenging
- Some sections focus heavily on military minutiae
- Limited coverage of San Martín's personal life
- Lack of critical analysis of San Martín's decisions
Ratings:
Goodreads: 4.1/5 (57 ratings)
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Other Spanish-language book sites show similar ratings around 4/5
One Goodreads reviewer noted: "Exhaustively researched but requires patience to get through the military details." Another commented: "Sets the standard for San Martín biographies but could use more insight into his character."
📚 Similar books
Simón Bolívar: A Life by John Lynch
Chronicles the military campaigns and political vision of South America's other great liberator through extensive use of primary sources and correspondence.
The General in His Labyrinth by Gabriel García Márquez Reconstructs the final journey of Simón Bolívar along the Magdalena River while reflecting on the independence struggles of South America.
Belgrano by Felipe Pigna Presents a research-based account of Manuel Belgrano's role in Argentine independence using personal documents and official records.
The Sword of San Martin by Ricardo Rojas Documents the military strategies and campaigns of José de San Martín through analysis of battlefield reports and strategic correspondence.
Birth of the Republic: The Argentine Independence Period 1810-1816 by Tulio Halperín Donghi Examines the political and social transformations during Argentina's independence movement through archival research and period documentation.
The General in His Labyrinth by Gabriel García Márquez Reconstructs the final journey of Simón Bolívar along the Magdalena River while reflecting on the independence struggles of South America.
Belgrano by Felipe Pigna Presents a research-based account of Manuel Belgrano's role in Argentine independence using personal documents and official records.
The Sword of San Martin by Ricardo Rojas Documents the military strategies and campaigns of José de San Martín through analysis of battlefield reports and strategic correspondence.
Birth of the Republic: The Argentine Independence Period 1810-1816 by Tulio Halperín Donghi Examines the political and social transformations during Argentina's independence movement through archival research and period documentation.
🤔 Interesting facts
🔹 Bartolomé Mitre was not just a historian - he served as the President of Argentina (1862-1868) and wrote this landmark biography shortly after leaving office.
🔹 San Martín's famous crossing of the Andes in 1817, described in detail in the book, involved moving an army of 5,000 men, 1,200 horses, and artillery pieces across mountains reaching heights of 12,000 feet.
🔹 The book was written after Mitre conducted extensive research in European archives and collected personal letters from San Martín's daughter, Mercedes Tomasa San Martín.
🔹 Prior to writing this biography, Mitre founded the newspaper La Nación in 1870, which remains one of Argentina's most influential daily newspapers today.
🔹 The book helped establish what historians call the "Official History" of Argentina, presenting San Martín as the perfect patriotic hero - a view that dominated Argentine historiography for nearly a century.