A History of Violence : Living and Dying in Central America

El Salvador and Honduras have had the highest homicide rates in the world over the past ten years. Óscar Martínez shares a beautiful and immersive account of life in one of the most violent places on earth. Martinez travels to Nicaraguan fishing towns, southern Mexican brothels where Central American women are trafficked, isolated Guatemalan jungle villages and crime-ridden Salvadoran slums. With his precise and empathetic reporting, he reveals the underbelly of some of the most dangerous places in the world, going undercover to drink with narcos, accompanying police patrols, riding in trafficking boats and hiding out with a gang informer. The result is an unforgettable portrait of a region of fear, helping to explain why migrants have been fleeing the area by the millions. [from the publisher] Heartbreaking Immersion Into The Lives Of People Enduring Extreme Violence In Central America El Salvador And Honduras Have Had The Highest Homicide Rates In The World Over The Past Ten Years. Oscar Martinez, Author Of The Beast, Which Was Named One Of The Best Books Of The Year By The Economist And The Financial Times, Shares A Beautiful And Immersive Account Of Life In One Of The Most Violent Places On Earth. Martinez Travels To Nicaraguan Fishing Towns, Southern Mexican Brothels Where Central American Women Are Trafficked, Isolated Guatemalan Jungle Villages And Crime-ridden Salvadoran Slums. With His Precise And Empathetic Reporting, He Reveals The Underbelly Of Some Of The Most Dangerous Places In The World, Going Undercover To Drink With Narcos, Accompanying Police Patrols, Riding In Trafficking Boats And Hiding Out With A Gang Informer. The Result Is An Unforgettable Portrait Of A Region Of Fear, Helping To Explain Why Migrants Have Been Fleeing The Area By The Millions-- Emptiness. The State Against Chepe Furia ; The Lords Of The Border ; Guatemala Is Spelled With A Z ; A Nobody In The Land Of Narcos ; Narco : Made In Central America -- Madness. Our Bottomless Well ; The Most Miserable Of Traitors ; El Niño Hollywood's Death Foretold ; The Massacre Of Salcajá ; Men Who Pull Out Nails -- Fleeing. The Tamed Coyotes ; Men Who Sell Women ; The Prayers Of El Salvador's Anti-gang Police Unit ; The Unfortunate Story Of An Undocumented Am Who Was Sold, Extorted, And Departed. Óscar Martínez ; Translated By John B. Washington And Daniela Ugaz ; Foreword By Jon Lee Anderson. Translated From The Spanish. This Book Is Based On A Series Of Articles Oscar Martínez Wrote For The Latin American News Website Elfaro.net And Published Under The Rubric 'sala Negra.' “A necessary read. ” — Los Angeles Review of Books “A chilling portrait of corruption, unimaginable brutality and impunity.” — Financial Times This revelatory and heartbreaking immersion into the lives of people enduring extreme violence in Central America is a powerful call for immigration policy reform in the United States. El Salvador and Honduras have had the highest homicide rates in the world over the past ten years, with Guatemala close behind. Every day more than 1,000 people—men, women, and children—flee these three countries for North America. Óscar Martínez, author of The Beast , named one of the best books of the year by the Economist , Mother Jones , and the Financial Times , fleshes out these stark figures with true stories, producing a jarringly beautiful and immersive account of life in deadly locations. Martínez travels to Nicaraguan fishing towns, southern Mexican brothels where Central American women are trafficked, isolated Guatemalan jungle villages, and crime-ridden Salvadoran slums. With his precise and empathetic reporting, he explores the underbelly of these troubled places. He goes undercover to drink with narcos, accompanies police patrols, rides in trafficking boats and hides out with a gang informer. The result is an unforgettable portrait of a region of fear and a subtle analysis of the North American roots and reach of the crisis, helping to explain why this history of violence should matter to all of us. This is a book about one of the deadliest places in the world El Salvador and Honduras have had the highest homicide rates in the world over the past ten years, with Guatemala close behind. Every day more than 1,000 peoplemen, women, and childrenflee these three countries for North America. scar Martnez, author of The Beast , named one of the best books of the year by the Economist , Mother Jones , and the Financial Times , fleshes out these stark figures with true stories, producing a jarringly beautiful and immersive account of life in deadly locations. Martnez travels to Nicaraguan fishing towns, southern Mexican brothels where Central American women are trafficked, isolated Guatemalan jungle villages, and crime-ridden Salvadoran slums. With his precise and empathetic reporting, he explores the underbelly of these troubled places. He goes undercover to drink with narcos, accompanies police patrols, rides in trafficking boats and hides out with a gang informer. The result is an unforgettable portrait of a region of fear and a subtle analysis of the North American roots and reach of the crisis, helping to explain why this history of violence should matter to all of us. This is a book about one of the deadliest places in the world El Salvador and Honduras have had the highest homicide rates in the world over the past ten years, with Guatemala close behind. Every day more than 1,000 people--men, women, and children--flee these three countries for North America. Óscar Martínez, author of The Beast , named one of the best books of the year by the Economist , Mother Jones , and the Financial Times , fleshes out these stark figures with true stories, producing a jarringly beautiful and immersive account of life in deadly locations. Martínez travels to Nicaraguan fishing towns, southern Mexican brothels where Central American women are trafficked, isolated Guatemalan jungle villages, and crime-ridden Salvadoran slums. With his precise and empathetic reporting, he explores the underbelly of these troubled places. He goes undercover to drink with narcos, accompanies police patrols, rides... A revelatory, intimate, and heartbreaking immersion into the lives of people enduring extreme violence in Central America