Marie Arana was born in Lima, Peru. She is the author of the memoir American Chica, a finalist for the National Book Award; two novels, Cellophane and Lima Nights; the prizewinning biography Bolivar; Silver, Sword, and Stone, a narrative history of Latin America; and The Writing Life, a collection from her well-known column for The Washington Post. She is the inaugural Literary Director of the Library of Congress and lives in Washington, DC, and Lima, Peru.
Meticulously researched, the book's greatest strengths are the power of its epic narrative, the beauty of its prose and its rich portrayals of character. . . . Arana's strength is the power and passion of her storytelling, and her explanation of what has shaped Latin America over the past half-millennium has the ring of truth. . . . [A] marvelous book. --Tom Gjelten The Washington Post Through the power and beauty of her writing, Arana brings extraordinary clarity to one of the most complex regions of the world. I have never before read a book of such astonishing breadth and intricate depth, capturing both the magnificent sweep of history and the gripping immediacy of journalism. The stories she tells will break your heart and blow your mind, but they will also give you a much clearer understanding of Latin America and a deep sense of wonder at the strength and resilience of its people. --Candice Millard, author of Hero of the Empire Arana's fluency in Latin American history blossoms in this unique and arresting inquiry into three 'crucibles' which have shaped Latin American life for centuries. . . . In this masterwork of exploration, connection, and analysis, Arana offers a fresh, gripping, and redefining perspective on a vital and magnificent region betrayed by toxic greed and vicious tyranny. --Booklist (starred review) A sweeping history of Latin America . . . . As captivating as it is comprehensive. It's a marvel for covering so much ground. --Publishers Weekly Gets at the identity conundrum of Latin America with storytelling that is both clear-eyed and evocative. . . . The sweep and soar of her narrative recalls Victor Hugo. . . . Arana gives us an epic story of stories -- of regions conjoined by desire for treasure, power and control, and of the emotional mortar which binds people together through endurance. --Marcela Davison Aviles NPR.org Like a condor soaring above the Andes, Marie Arana gives a sweeping overview of Latin American history. History is usually written by the winners, but this book throbs with passion for the victims and underdogs. It also celebrates the cultural triumphs, exuberance and generosity that make Latin America so lovable. --John Hemming, author of The Conquest of the Incas Peruvian-born author Marie Arana takes us directly to the mysterious and misunderstood center of Latin America in her latest book. . . . The sweep is enormous and complex, but Arana's storytelling and her obvious compassion guide us through the past millennium as an absorbing, even poignant, kaleidoscopic journey to places it behooves us all to comprehend. --Yvette Benavides San Antonio News-Express The Peruvian-born author delves into the tripartite crux of Latin American exploitation by the Western powers. . . . [An] impressively concise yet comprehensive history. A profoundly moving and relevant work that provides new ways of thinking about the 'discovery of America.' --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Beautifully written, meticulously researched. . . . A must-read for anyone struggling to understand Latin America's tumultuous past and our fraught relationship with our southern neighbors. Arana has done us a service with her clear, even-handed treatment of the subject. --Barbara Mujica Washington Independent Review of Books Silver, Sword, and Stone, as Arana points out, is not a straightforward history of Latin America. Neither is it journalism. Rather, it's a hybrid, combining learned historical analysis with in-depth reporting and political commentary. . . . [And] an informed and authoritative voice, one that deserves a wide audience. --Alvaro Enrigue The New York Times Marie Arana's monumental, stupendous new history of Latin America, Silver Sword, and Stone, is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand this hemisphere and our current crises. --Julia Alvarez, author of In the Time of the Butterflies To trace the soul of a continent is an extraordinary feat, and Marie Arana does it with scholarly precision, moral thoroughness and elegance of style. For anyone interested in understanding--really understanding--what Latin America is and where it comes from, Silver, Sword and Stone has to be the first step. --Juan Gabriel Vasquez, author of The Sound of Things Falling An elegant and incisive writer and observer, Marie Arana has given us a thoughtful and revealing portrait of the fabled--and too-little-understood--world of Latin America. Combining history with contemporary reportage, Silver, Sword & Stone is compelling reading. --Jon Meacham, author of The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels