In 1952, 24-year-old Ernesto Guevara left his native Argentina to motorcycle the back roads of South America. Eight months later, Ernesto returned transformed into "Che" the revolutionary. His account of that journey, "Motorcycle Diaries", has become a classic. Nearly half a century later Patrick Symmes set off on his BMW R80/GS along the same route in search of the people and the places encountered by Che. Symme's own adventures - he runs out of petrol in an Argentine desert, breaks down in the Andes, and drinks himself blind in Cuba with Che's travel partner, Alberto Granado - counterpoint those of the great revolutionary. The book gives an insight into the moulding of the great Latin American hero and paints a portrait of a continent whose dreams of utopia give birth not only to freedom fighters but also tyrants. But above all it is the story of a journey on the open road, where man and machine traverse the unknown in search of the spirit's keenest desires.
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A motorcycle trip in 1952 marked a turning point for Ernesto Guevara Lynch de la Serna, a medical student returning from a journey into poverty and oppression with a vision of guerilla-style change and a new name, Che Guevara. Going on to help overthrow the Cuban government, align himself with Castro and become elevated to martyred hero status when he was executed in Bolivia in 1967, Guevara's likeness is now commercialised and captured on T-shirts, castanets and watches.
In Chasing Che New York writer Patrick Symmes embarks on a motorcycle tracing Guevara's route through Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Chile and Cuba, seeking insight into what Guevara experienced and what his political movement wrought. Meeting with those who knew the young Che--among them a lover, a leper, and his motorcycle travelling cohort--proves interesting enough, though rarely insightful since some were children at the time, some are confused and others refuse to talk openly. More revealing are Symmes's travels on his bike, nicknamed La Cucaracha. He winds through Buenos Aires' high society and Peruvian poverty, finding a fragmented country where revolutions have brought mountain peasants fleeing to shanty towns, where blind idealism coexists with blatant denouncement of the violent tactics used by Cuban Communists, even by Che's most respected soldiers. Beautifully written, the stories that unfold here reflect the complex contradiction that endures in Latin America three long decades after Ernesto "Che" Guevara's death. --Melissa Rossi
About the Author
Patrick Symmes is a journalist who writes about Latin America, politics, and Third World travel for a number of magazines, including Harper's, Outside, Conde Nast Traveler. He lives in New York City.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I just want to drop in a short review of this book as i feel the other reviewer has done a disservice with a 1 star rating. I found the book clearly written in an honest style that let you engage with Symmes thoughts easily. It combines a insightful political and social commentary on south america with on the road adventure. I read it as a follow up to Guevara's own account of his south american journey, I would recommend you do the same, as it provides context and delivers some perspective. Yet this book stands up in it's own right, without being too dependant upon Che's personality. A good un-daunting book written by an intelligent and well informed author.
Other books of a similar ilk I enjoyed: Jupiter's Travels and Ted Simon's follow up Riding High, Guevara's Motorcycle diaries, but avoid Mi Moto Fidel.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I too think that a 1 star rating is undeserved. I found this book to be interesting and informative, covering social and political issues as well as giving geographical and historical comparison to Guevara's own trip. I learned plenty about Chi and Ernesto (as he was known at the time of his original trip in 1952) about the Cuban revolution, the state of South America both in the 50's and 60's as well as more recently.
I would recommend this book to any one with an interest in Chi Guevara, the man behind the legend. To people with an interest in South American and even Cuban politics, history and social conditions.
This is not a manuel on how to tour South America by Motorcycle. I'm sure there are better books for this, and this book is better for not trying to be one.
Read with an open mind and enjoy.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Probably a mistake to read reviews of a book your thinking of buying but i found the book very good . It starts a bit slowly but i did feel as though i was there with him in the end. Well written & not into che worship , its a truthful story of his journey following the route (as closely as he could) as set out in both the 'motorcycle diaries' & granado's 'travelling with che' .well worth a read.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book!
Very enjoyable book. Would recommend to anyone interested in travel writing and politics. I hadn't read the Motorcycle Diaries but now intend to.
Published 1 month ago by T. O'shea
2.0 out of 5 stars
Book marked and torn
The quality of the book was very poor and not acceptable most of all when it said that it is in good condition. It was marked and torn on 5 pages. Read more
Published on 23 Jan 2011 by magicdude77
4.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant and evocative travel writing
To me, this book is a great example of what modern 'adventure travel' writing should be. It has been on my shelf for ages, and I put off reading it for a long time which was a... Read more
Published on 15 April 2009 by J. Reeve
4.0 out of 5 stars
Motorcycling Needs Writers Like This.
If your knowledge of Che Guevara is limited to one iconic photograph, then like me you probably didn't realise he was a happy go lucky biker first if not foremost. Read more
Published on 18 Feb 2007 by Gaffers Gallop
1.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing
Symmes is good on the broad sweep of Latin American politics, but you'll learn more about Che Guevara from Jon Lee Anderson's biography, and you'll learn more about taking a... Read more
Published on 11 Jun 2001
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