Eva Peron

Like many Americans, I didn't know much about Eva Peron, the First Lady of Argentina, before I saw the movie version of the musical 'Evita' starring Madonna (for others, their exposure to Evita was the Broadway musical years before). I fell in love with the film and became fascinated with its subject. Wanting to know more about Eva, I read two biographies on her: both simply titled, "Eva Peron", the first by Nicholas Fraser and Maryssa Navarro and the second by Alicia Ortiz (translated in English). I found Fraser and Navarro's book very informative, but much too straightforward and dry. Ortiz's book, however, was thoroughly enjoyable. While Fraser and Navarro simply spit out the facts (which is somewhat admirable, considering how much mythology surrounds Eva's life), Ortiz writes in a style that is both detailed and descriptive. She manages to paint a balanced, yet vivid portrait of Evita. In Argentina, Evita is often remembered in either two extremes: as a selfless saintly crusader for the poor or as a ruthless manipulator who did whatever she could to succeed. Ortiz manages to find a middle ground and portray Evita in a more realistic light. She comes across as a flesh-and-blood woman with both strengths and shortcomings. A woman whose fierce ambition and complex persona polarized a nation. I enjoyed learning more about Eva's childhood, the years she worked as an actress, and the complexities of her relationship with Juan Peron. The book seems very well researched, with testimonies from those who knew Eva and quotes from the woman herself (although the accuracy of these quotes is questionable). Not many things about Eva Peron are concrete, including the specific events of her life. Ortiz realizes this and tackles the most well known moments of Eva's life (her move to Buenos Aires at 15, meeting Peron, whether she helped free him from jail or not) by analyzing the ambiguities that surround them. Its hard to not be subjective about a figure as larger than life as Evita and, although her personal opinions do slip in from time to time, Ortiz is quite fair and objective to her subject.

This book offers a completely unbiased look at one of the most controversial first ladies of the twentieth century. Eva Peron was both adored and despised and many aspects of her life are open to wide speculation. The author never tries to assume one opinion, as most biographers do, but carefully presents each possible version of the events in question. Eva is presented as neither saint or sinner, just a very complex and intense person, and it is completely up to the reader as to how to judge her. This is probably the most well researched and honest biography of Eva Peron available.

Well written account of a fascinating piece of history. Gives good insight into actions and thought process through use of a variety of sources. The detail regarding the politics of the time all help to understand Eva's actions. The book gives a fair account of the many aspects of her personality ranging from total self centered absorbtion to total selfless giving. The author takes the relationship of husband and wife out of fantasy and into reality.

This is the first book ever to compile all the biographies of the past (noting political bias of authors) and new information. Absolutely the finest assessment of the Perons' years in power in Argentina, the book is balanced, complete, and thorough, an amazing quality since the subject is so complex and so many facts will never be known. Ortiz scrupulously analyzes published information, rumors, gossip and the results of her own investigation and presents it in a logical, clear and fair manner. No one interested in this topic should start with any other book on the subject