Duarte : my story

From Publishers Weekly After a period as military-appointed president, Duarte became El Salvador's elected leader in 1984 and is now making strides in turning the country into a true democracy. Amid the morass of conflicting information about the situation in El Salvador, Duarte's straightforward and unpretentious autobiography helps clarify the relationship between right, left and center (the latter led by Duarte himself), as well as the delicate relationship between San Salvador and Washington. His account of the laborious, frequently dangerous but ultimately successful struggle to win the allegiance of the Salvadoran army forms the core of the narrative. The book also includes an account of the investigation into the murder of the Maryknoll sisters, the story of his daughter's kidnapping by guerrillas and an analysis of the devastating effect of the "discovery" by the American media of El Salvador as a hot issue. Photos. Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Library Journal Most readers interested in Central America will find this autobiography by El Salvador's president an insightful view into his own personality, but more importantly, into the politics of the region. This sometimes frank and self-effacing memoir offers valuable interpretations as to the role of the oligarchy and military, the nature of political repression, the interconnected world of social and political leaders, the source of guerrilla leadership, and the unfortunate interventions by the United States. Duarte captures many of the misconceptions which official Washington has about El Salvador, providing a worthwhile Latin American account of a middle-class professional's conversion to politics. Highly recommended. Roderic A. Camp, Latin American Studies Dept., Central Coll., Pella, IowaCopyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.