The Bolivia Reader

Spanning from ancient times to the present day, this collection traces the history, culture and politics of Bolivia. The country stands out for its mix of ethnic groups and regions, its abundant natural resources, its struggles with economic development, and a long record of political strife and inventiveness.

The reader gathers a wide range of material: novels, memoirs and poems alongside government papers, reporting and political speeches. Many of the well-known and lesser-known pieces appear in English for the first time. Their coverage runs from Inka rule and the Spanish conquest to three centuries at the heart of the Spanish empire, and then to the turbulent politics and lively culture of the national era. Along the way, the selections address mineral extraction, revolution, labor organizing and indigenous movements, and they challenge the image of Bolivia as a backward nation. Their authors come from many different social positions.

Broad in its reach, the volume lays out both Bolivia's deep past and its present-day challenges, allowing readers to engage with the country's complexity through the voices of those who lived it.