For many people, Ernesto Che Guevara symbolizes the movement for social change that swept the world in the 1960s — a man who gave his life for his ideals. Whether the man made the legends or the legends made the man, a romantic aura has attached to Che, obscuring the political realities that motivated him. In this astute study of Che's life and his doomed campaign in Bolivia, which draws on extensive field research, Richard Harris considers the essential question: When Che Guevara was killed by the Bolivian Army in October 1967, did he die a hero, a martyr, or the victim of his own errors?

Harris explores Che's youth and early political indoctrination and his association with Fidel Castro and the Soviet Communist parties. He follows Che as he traveled to China, to Africa, to Moscow, seeking to create an anti-imperialist front among the neutral nations of Asia and Africa. And he interviews politicians, government officials, and journalists in Bolivia, where Che went hoping to lead a peasant uprising and instead met his death.

Death of a Revolutionary offers a rare, balanced look at the man behind the legend — and the circumstances that created him and shaped his choices.

Che died on campaign in October 1967, and six months later Harris (global studies, California State U.-Monterey Bay) was in Bolivia to investigate how one of the most famous and systematic revolutionaries of the century was defeated and killed by one of the world's worst armies. Much has happened since he published his findings in 1970, and here he places them in today's context. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

This probing account into the life and death of South American revolutionary icon Che Guevara includes a new chapter on the effects of his legacy today. "Provocative and fair-minded".--"Library Journal". of illustrations.

'This new edition coincides with the 40th anniversary of Che Guevara\'s death and the 80th anniversary of his birth. Updated with a new epilogue.

Richard L. Harris includes in this updated edition of Death of a Revolutionary new revelations about Che\'s revolutionary legacy and discusses the renewed interest in his revolutionary ideas stimulated by the election of leftist governments throughout Latin America. In response to this growing resurgence of interest in Che\'s life, a feature film directed by Steven Soderbergh, and several documentaries are scheduled for release in late 2007 and 2008. To commemorate Che\'s life and death many international conferences and events will be held and his iconic image will be seen repeatedly in the mass media. This new edition of Death of a Revolutionary—hailed as \"well written, provocative, and fair minded\" by Choice—contains the latest information on this charismatic and legendary figure and reveals why he is a hero for millions of people around the world.'

'Richard L. Harris, professor of global studies at California State University-Monterey Bay, is the author and editor of many works on politics, economics, and revolutionary change in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. He lives in Sacramento, California.'