The Emancipation of South America

In 1890, before traveling to Europe, General Bartolomé Mitre asked William Pilling to publish an English translation of his monumental "History of San Martin", authorizing the translator to condense the text for the English-speaking public. Aiming to catch the reader's eye, Pilling elevated the original subtitle, creating The Emancipation of South America, a work that saw the light in 1893.

Mitre’s original work—partly written while he was imprisoned in Luján following a political rebellion—stands as the foundational pillar of Argentine historiography. Supported by a massive archive of over 10,000 documents, Mitre crafted a precise, almost scientific narrative of the continent's struggle for independence. However, recognizing that European readers might find the exhaustive local details wearisome, Pilling successfully synthesized the work.

The result is a brilliant, fast-paced continental history that follows the dual epic of South American liberation: José de San Martín in the South and Simón Bolívar in the North. From the secretive Lautaro Lodge and the heroic Passage of the Andes, to the decisive battles of Maipú, Boyacá, and Ayacucho, this English edition remains an accurate and essential expression of Mitre's historical vision, offering an unparalleled overview of how a continent forged its freedom.