




“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
Bolívar’s life is one of history’s most dramatic canvases, a colossal narrative replete with adventure and disaster, victory and defeat.
American Chica transports us far beyond the conventional boundaries of ethnic memoir; with great delicacy, Arana helps us understand why the marriage of the Americas is as difficult as it is inevitable.
“Erotic, catastrophic . . . Arana’s novel of taboo passion, tragic misperception, and life’s hidden dimensions is as shattering as it is seductive.”
Marie Arana has created a rich, boisterous saga about a remarkable family, a wondrous invention, and a powerful collision between science, magic, and faith.

“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
Silver, Sword, and Stone – New Book
Coming soon! Marie’s new book about Three Crucibles in the Latin American Story. Three ordinary Latin Americans against 1,000 years of history and why their…
Read MoreMarie’s TED talk on Bolívar
Watch Marie’s (unedited) TED talk, given at the first TED-South conference in Latin America. The conference was in Rio de Janeiro in a fabulous tent…
Read MoreLibrary of Congress podcast about “Bolivar: American Liberator”
Francisco Macias from the Library of Congress speaks with Marie Arana, who appeared at the National Book Festival on September 21, 2013, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Read MoreLima Nights se publica en el Perú – Entrevista
La novela “Lima Nights” fue publicada en Lima, Perú y recibió elogios, nombrada por el crítico literario de El Comercio Ricardo González Vigil como una de…
Read More