Overview

Within Argentina, Juan Domingo Perón continues to be the subject of exaggerated and diametrically opposed views. A dictator, a great leader, the hero of the working classes and Argentina’s “first worker”; a weak and spineless man dependent on his strongerwilled wife; a Latin American visionary; a traitor, responsible for dragging Argentina into a modern, socially just 20th century society or, conversely, destroying for all time a prosperous nation and fomenting class war and unreasonable aspirations among his client base. Outside Argentina, Perón remains overshadowed by his second wife, Evita. The life of this fascinating and unusual man, whose charisma, political influence and controversial nature continue to generate interest, remains somewhat of a mystery to the rest of the world. Perón remains a key figure in Argentine politics, still able to occupy so much of the political spectrum as to constrain the development of viable alternatives. Jill Hedges explores the life and personality of Perón and asks why he remains a political icon despite the ‘negatives’ associated with his extreme personalism.

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Reviews

[A] crisp, balanced and well-documented biography. * Think Scotland * As in her previous works on Argentine recent history and politics, Jill Hedges has written a biography of remarkable depth and intellectual rigor. Although much has been known about Peron's life and impact, this book manages not only to clarify mistakes and dispel myths, but also to bring forward additional material to enrich our understanding of a complex personality and a significant but often misunderstood movement. Although Peron has been dead for 46 years, this is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding contemporary political developments in Latin America. * Juan E. Mendez, Professor of Human rights Law in Residence, American University, USA. * Juan Domingo Peron is undoubtedly one of the defining figures of the last century in Argentina and across Latin America. Yet he remains misunderstood with assessments of his life and contributions clouded by ideology. There is no one better than Jill Hedges, a premier expert on Argentina and Peronism, to provide a measured, rich and engaging account of Perons life. In doing so, she does not only illuminate a key period in Argentinean history, but also makes a major contribution to current debates on populism and its usefulness. A must read! * Diego Sanchez-Ancochea, University of Oxford, UK * Jill Hedges has written a companion volume to her biography of Eva Peron. Juan Peron: The Life of the People's Colonel tackles no less a controversial figure. Peron, often seen as the ur Latin American populist, is for some a radical reformer, a promoter of social justice, for others a profligate dictator, and admirer of Mussolini. This biography treads a careful but critical path through the evidence, and shows Peron to be above all a political chameolon, a pragmatist with a mixed record of achievement. Highly readable and carefully researched, this is a welcome contribution to the understanding of Argentina's turbulent history. * Professor Maxine Molyneux, Institute of the Americas, University College London, UK *

As in her previous works on Argentine recent history and politics, Jill Hedges has written a biography of remarkable depth and intellectual rigor. Although much has been known about Peron's life and impact, this book manages not only to clarify mistakes and dispel myths, but also to bring forward additional material to enrich our understanding of a complex personality and a significant but often misunderstood movement. Although Peron has been dead for 46 years, this is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding contemporary political developments in Latin America. * Juan E. Mendez, Professor of Human rights Law in Residence, American University, USA. *

[A] crisp, balanced and well-documented biography. * Think Scotland * As in her previous works on Argentine recent history and politics, Jill Hedges has written a biography of remarkable depth and intellectual rigor. Although much has been known about Peron’s life and impact, this book manages not only to clarify mistakes and dispel myths, but also to bring forward additional material to enrich our understanding of a complex personality and a significant but often misunderstood movement. Although Peron has been dead for 46 years, this is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding contemporary political developments in Latin America. * Juan E. Mendez, Professor of Human rights Law in Residence, American University, USA. * Juan Domingo Perón is undoubtedly one of the defining figures of the last century in Argentina and across Latin America. Yet he remains misunderstood with assessments of his life and contributions clouded by ideology. There is no one better than Jill Hedges, a premier expert on Argentina and Peronism, to provide a measured, rich and engaging account of Peron´s life. In doing so, she does not only illuminate a key period in Argentinean history, but also makes a major contribution to current debates on populism and its usefulness. A must read! * Diego Sánchez-Ancochea, University of Oxford, UK * Jill Hedges has written a companion volume to her biography of Eva Perón. Juan Perón: The Life of the People’s Colonel tackles no less a controversial figure. Perón, often seen as the ur Latin American populist, is for some a radical reformer, a promoter of social justice, for others a profligate dictator, and admirer of Mussolini. This biography treads a careful but critical path through the evidence, and shows Perón to be above all a political chameolon, a pragmatist with a mixed record of achievement. Highly readable and carefully researched, this is a welcome contribution to the understanding of Argentina’s turbulent history. * Professor Maxine Molyneux, Institute of the Americas, University College London, UK *

Author Information

Jill Hedges has been Senior Analyst and Deputy Director of Analysis at Oxford Analytica since 2001. She lived in Argentina between 1992-2000, where she was a visiting researcher at the European-Latin America Research Institute (EURAL). Her books include Argentina: A Modern History (2011), and Evita: The Life of Eva Perón (2016).

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