βHugo! : the Hugo Chávez story from mud hut to perpetual revolution ¡Hugo! : the Hugo Chávez story from mud hut to perpetual revolution

Bart Jones knows Venezuela intimately and was an eyewitness to President Hugo Chávez’s rise to power. In __Hugo!__ he tells the story of Chávez’s impoverished childhood, his military career and the decade of clandestine political activity that ended in a failed attempt to seize power in 1992. He describes the election campaign against a former Miss Universe that finally won Chávez the Presidency and the dramatic reversals of fortune that have marked it: the struggle to reform the Venezuelan economy, the coup attempt of 2002 in which he was kidnapped and faced summary execution, and the oil industry strike that followed. The full stories of many of these episodes have never been told before – in English or Spanish. __Hugo!__ is scrupulously researched and sourced, and as compelling to read as a good novel. The ruling elites and popular media in Venezuela and the United States oversimplify by casting Chávez as the heir to Fidel Castro, and more often than not, they have their facts wrong. The truth is more complex, and more interesting. The leader of one of the most powerful economies in Latin America is determined to try to use his country's wealth to help the poor majority. The Chávez that emerges from Jones’ account is neither a plaster saint nor a revolutionary tyrant. He is a master politician — democratically elected to the presidency three times — an inspired improviser, a Bolivarian nationalist and an unashamed socialist. His policies have brought him into conflict with the IMF and the World Bank, the major oil companies and the Bush White House. By the time he arrived at the United Nations in September 2006 he had become a figure on the world stage. When he declared that ‘the devil came here yesterday ... the President of the United States’, it was clear that, right or wrong, one man was taking on the might of most powerful nation on earth, in conscious imitation of the Liberator, Simon Bolivar. Bart Jones Knows Venezuela Intimately And Was An Eyewitness To President Hugo Ch?vez?s Rise To Power. In Hugo! He Tells The Story Of Ch?vez?s Impoverished Childhood, His Military Career And The Decade Of Clandestine Political Activity That Ended In A Failed Attempt To Seize Power In 1992. He Describes The Election Campaign Against A Former Miss Universe That Finally Won Ch?vez The Presidency And The Dramatic Reversals Of Fortune That Have Marked It: The Struggle To Reform The Venezuelan Economy, The Coup Attempt Of 2002 In Which He Was Kidnapped And Faced Summary Execution, And The Oil Industry Strike That Followed -- Publisher Website (february 2008). Hurricane Hugo -- Roots Of Rebellion -- A Revolutionary Is Born -- Testing The Waters -- A Sacred Oath -- The Conspiracy Deepens -- First Betrayals -- The Massacre -- Waiting In The Wings -- Rebellion Of The Angels -- Jail -- Secret Comandante's Good-bye -- On The Road -- Beauty And The Beast -- To Power -- A Birth And A Tragedy -- First Defections -- Oil Man -- First Revolts And The Return Of The Iran-contra Crowd -- The Coup -- The President Is Missing -- The Aftermath -- Oil Strike -- The Social Missions --the Recall -- Striking Back -- Twenty-first-century Socialism. Bart Jones. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [475]-530) And Index. Ruling elites in Venezuela, the United States and Europe, and even Hugo Chavez himself though for different reasons, have been eager to have the world view him as the heir to Fidel Castro. But the truth about this increasingly influential world leader is more complex, and more interesting.. The Chavez that emerges from Bart Jones' carefully researched and documented biography is neither a plaster saint nor a revolutionary tyrant. He has an undeniably autocratic streak, and yet has been freely and fairly re-elected to his nations presidency three times with astonishing margins of victory. He is a master politician and an inspired improviser, a Bolivarian nationalist and an unashamed socialist. His policies have brought him into conflict with the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and major oil companies. They have also provided a model for new governments and social movements in Ecuador, Bolivia, and Argentina. When in September 2006 he declared at the United Nations that 'the devil came here yesterday ... the President of the United States', it was clear that he was taking on challenging the most powerful nation on earth, in conscious imitation of the Liberator, Simon Bolivar.From the Trade Paperback edition. Ruling Elites In Venezuela, The United States And Europe, And Even Hugo Chávez Himself Though For Different Reasons, Have Been Eager To Have The World View Him As The Heir To Fidel Castro. But The Truth About This Increasingly Influential World Leader Is More Complex, And More Interesting.. The Chávez That Emerges From Bart Jones’ Carefully Researched And Documented Biography Is Neither A Plaster Saint Nor A Revolutionary Tyrant. He Has An Undeniably Autocratic Streak, And Yet Has Been Freely And Fairly Re-elected To His Nations Presidency Three Times With Astonishing Margins Of Victory. He Is A Master Politician And An Inspired Improviser, A Bolivarian Nationalist And An Unashamed Socialist. His Policies Have Brought Him Into Conflict With The International Monetary Fund, The World Bank, And Major Oil Companies. They Have Also Provided A Model For New Governments And Social Movements In Ecuador, Bolivia, And Argentina. When In September 2006 He Declared At The United Nations That ‘the Devil Came Here Yesterday ... The President Of The United States’, It Was Clear That He Was Taking On Challenging The Most Powerful Nation On Earth, In Conscious Imitation Of The Liberator, Simon Bolivar. From The Trade Paperback Edition. Ruling elites in Venezuela, the United States and Europe, and even Hugo ChAvez himself though for different reasons, have been eager to have the world view him as the heir to Fidel Castro. But the truth about this increasingly influential world leader is more complex, and more interesting. The ChAvez that emerges from Bart Jones' carefully researched and documented biography is neither a plaster saint nor a revolutionary tyrant. He has an undeniably autocratic streak, and yet has been freely and fairly re-elected to his nations presidency three times with astonishing margins of victory. He is a master politician and an inspired improviser, a Bolivarian nationalist and an unashamed socialist. His policies have brought him into conflict with the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and major oil companies. They have also provided a model for new governments and social movements in Ecuador, Bolivia, and Argentina. When in September 2006 he declared at the United Nations that 'the devil came here yesterday ' the President of the United States', it was clear that he was taking on challenging the most powerful nation on earth, in conscious imitation of the Liberator, Simon Bolivar. From the Trade Paperback edition