The Mountain That Eats Men
Ander Izagirre
(Author)
Tim Gutteridge
(Translator)
Description
From the 16th century, the mines of Potosí, perched high in the Andes, bankrolled the Spanish empire. During those years immense wealth allowed the city to grow larger than London at the time and the mountain was quickly given the epithet Cerro Rico - the 'rich mountain'. But today, Potosí's inhabitants are some of the poorest in South America while the mountain itself has been so greedily plundered that its summit is on the verge of collapsing. So many people have died in the mines that the Cerro Rico is now called the 'mountain that eats men'.
In this captivating, moving tale of harrowing bravery and wistful beauty Ander Izagirre tells the story of the mountain and those who risk their lives in its shadow through the eyes of Alicia - a 14-year-old girl working in the dark, dangerous mines to support her family. Through her eyes we can come to know the story of postcolonial Bolivia.Product Details
Price
$18.95
$17.62
Publisher
Zed Books
Publish Date
May 15, 2019
Pages
240
Dimensions
5.3 X 8.4 X 0.8 inches | 0.55 pounds
Language
English
Type
Paperback
EAN/UPC
9781786994554
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Become an affiliateAbout the Author
Ander Izagirre is a Spanish author, journalist and travel writer whose writing has appeared in National Geographic and Lonely Planet, as well as El País, El Correo and other publications. He has written extensively on Latin American issues, and was awarded the European Press Prize 2015 for his reports on war crimes in Colombia. Tim Gutteridge is a Scottish translator and editor, based in Cadiz, Andalusia, where he lives with his partner and their two children. He specializes in academic and literary translation, and his recent work includes The Swallow, a stage play by Catalan dramatist Guillem Clua. @TimG_translatorAnder Izagirre is a Spanish author, journalist and travel writer whose writing has appeared in National Geographic and Lonely Planet, as well as El País, El Correo and other publications. He has written extensively on Latin American issues, and was awarded the European Press Prize 2015 for his reports on war crimes in Colombia. Tim Gutteridge is a Scottish translator and editor, based in Cadiz, Andalusia, where he lives with his partner and their two children. He specializes in academic and literary translation, and his recent work includes The Swallow, a stage play by Catalan dramatist Guillem Clua. @TimG_translator
Reviews
"With echoes of Galeano's political ire and Salgado's immersive rawness, Izagirre has produced a gut-puncher of a book. A powerful, important work that puts the human back into human rights."--Oliver Balch, author of Viva South America!
"Explores the fascinating and tragic story of the exploitation of Potosí, one of the richest deposits of silver and tin on the planet. Izagirre's narrative of characters eking out a living amidst what, for many, ultimately became silver-lined tombs is deft, admirable, and haunting."--Kim MacQuarrie, author of Life and Death In the Andes
"Gives vivid descriptions of Alicia's life and work, supplementing these anecdotes with fascinating accounts of the history and politics of the mines that crisscross the Cerro Rico de Potosí. . . . Mining is still an important part of today's global economy; however, our modern paradigm emphasizes sustainability: mining that is profitable but protects the environment and human rights and health. As Izagirre shows, places such as Cerro Rico de Potosí have a considerable way to go to achieve this."--Science
"Explores the fascinating and tragic story of the exploitation of Potosí, one of the richest deposits of silver and tin on the planet. Izagirre's narrative of characters eking out a living amidst what, for many, ultimately became silver-lined tombs is deft, admirable, and haunting."--Kim MacQuarrie, author of Life and Death In the Andes
"Gives vivid descriptions of Alicia's life and work, supplementing these anecdotes with fascinating accounts of the history and politics of the mines that crisscross the Cerro Rico de Potosí. . . . Mining is still an important part of today's global economy; however, our modern paradigm emphasizes sustainability: mining that is profitable but protects the environment and human rights and health. As Izagirre shows, places such as Cerro Rico de Potosí have a considerable way to go to achieve this."--Science