“Monumental, stupendous. . . . a must-read for anyone who wants to understand this hemisphere.”
~Julia Alvarez
“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. . . . a marvelous book.”
~The Washington Post
“A lively and learned account of Latin America, ingeniously structured.”
~The New York Times
A major work of history, Bolivar colorfully portrays a dramatic life even as it explains the rivalries and turmoil that bedeviled Bolivar’s tragic last days.
“Finally, Bolivar gets the sweeping biography he deserves. He was the greatest leader in Latin American history, and his tale is filled with lessons about leadership and passion. This book reads like a wonderful novel but is researched like a masterwork of history.” –Walter Isaacson, author of Steve Jobs
Marie is a Peruvian-American author of nonfiction and fiction as well as the inaugural Literary Director of the Library of Congress. She is the recipient of a 2020 literary award from the American Academy of Arts & Letters. Among her recent positions are: Director of the National Book Festival, the John W. Kluge Center’s Chair of the Cultures of the Countries of the South, and Writer at Large for the Washington Post. For many years, she was editor-in-chief of the Washington Post’s book review section, Book World.
Silver, Sword and Stone
News & Events
A Talk at the Peruvian Embassy
Monday, November 22, 7 p.m. Peruvian Embassy Residence, Washington, D.C. Marie will talk about Lima Nights as well as her other books, Cellophane and American…
Read MoreEnsayo de Jonathan Yardley sobre Marie Arana
Marie Arana es una auténtica ciudadana hemisférica. Su escritura explora y abraza los dos lados de las Américas, tal como ella misma lo ha hecho durante toda su vida. Nacida en Lima, de padre peruano y madre “yankee”, se siente igualmente a gusto en ambas culturas.
Read MoreNobel Prize in Literature
It took more than a century to get here, but last year finally made it obvious: It’s time to throw out the Nobel Prize in literature.
Read MoreJonathan Yardley’s essay on Marie Arana
Marie Arana is truly a citizen of the hemisphere. Her writing explores and embraces both continents of the Americas, just as she herself has done throughout her life. Born in Lima to a Peruvian father and a Yankee mother, she is equally at ease in both of their cultures.
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