Argentina: the Rise and Fall

''Argentina: the Rise and Fall'' follows the gripping story of one of the world's most unusual nations - a country which rose from poverty and backwardness to economic greatness and political power, only to be dragged down by factionalism, economic decline, and the rise of dictators. The central theme of the story is Argentina's struggle to escape its colonial past - a struggle doomed by the country's inherent flaws of division along the lines of class, race, and geography. From generation to generation, the same historical cycles are repeated - complex relationships with foreign powers, the rise of demagogic dictators, and unresolved questions of national identity. As the actions of one generation foreshadow the future of the next, the epic cycle of Argentine history is foreshadowed in its colonial history, builds to a thunderous crescendo during the regime of Juan Peron, falls to a heartbreaking nadir during the dictatorship of the 1970's, and descends to a cathartic conclusion with the election of Pope Francis. Throughout the early parts of the narrative, which describe Argentina's rise to greatness, the events of the next generation are foreshadowed as Argentina's cyclical history moves steadily forward towards its dramatic climax. Weaving through the narrative arc are four compelling personal stories - an impoverished peasant boy who rises to become a respected intellectual ; a ruthless dictator who becomes the most powerful figure in Argentine history, but is undone by his own pride; an ambitious young military officer who secretly covets the Presidency; and a humble priest who must confront a terrorist regime during Argentina's darkest hour.

Sweeping from pampas battlefields to imperial palaces, from the untamed frontier to the heart of Buenos Aires, ''Argentina: the Rise and Fall'' is an epic, gripping chronicle of a nation, its people, and the lessons it holds.