The Robin Hood Guerrillas: The Epic Journey of Uruguay's Tupamaros Paperback – May 1, 2014

Despite the unfortunately-chosen title, this is the most comprehensive account of the rise and fall of the Tupamaros available in English. It is not a scholarly work, nor is it a literary tour de force. It is a workmanlike chronology based mainly on secondary sources (many available only in Spanish) and the author's interviews with a handful of key participants. Nevertheless, it is a must-read for anyone interested in Uruguay's history during this period. It is also accessible to those with no background in Uruguay but an interest in comparative revolutionary movements. The title leads one to expect a sympathetic portrayal of the Tupamaros. Brum, however, does an admirable job sifting through the facts and presenting a balanced picture; he leaves it to the reader to separate the good guys from the bad.The same can be said of Brum's treatment of the Uruguayan security forces. What we might now call "advanced interegation techniques" (aka, torture) were integral to gathering the intelligence that allowed the army to defeat the guerillas. Brum points out that the leadership of the Uruguayan security forces was heavily influenced by the French experience in the Battle of Algiers, where torture was widely credited for France's tactical success (as well, one should add, as its ultimate strategic failure). On the other hand, the Uruguayan government never conducted the kind of full-scale "dirty war" seen in Argentina and Chile.Many of the Tupamaros -- founder Raul Sendic being a prime example -- come across as naive, middle-class Marxists swept up in the euphoria of the Cuban revolution and trying to bring down one of the more egalitarian states in Latin America without giving much real thought to the matter. Dogma took the place of critical analysis when it came to both the enemy and the nature of the war they were fighting. Their unfamiliarity with firearms is evidenced by the alarming number of accidental shootings recounted by the author, to the point that it sometimes appears that an armed Tupa was more dangerous to himself and those around him than to his intended victims. Nevertheless, in the context of Uruguay in the late 1960s and early '70s, the Tupamaros were remarkably effective at destabilizing the state. Brum not only gives the Tupamaros credit for their many tactical successes, he is unflinching in his assessment of their excesses. At no point do the Tupamaros live up to the book's title, but they do seem rather tame by today's standards of terrorism.

I've always been fascinated with the story of Jose Mujica. His modern day acts of being a good Samaritan and progressive leader have earned him a wonderful reputation, but what I find most interesting about "Pepe" is his past as an exciting revolutionary. When I found out that there was a book in English on his full story, I jumped at the chance to read it. What happened next was completely unexpected. I had no idea just how complex, dark, and exciting the story of Jose Mujica's past really was.Jose Mujica was a member of the Tupamaros, Uruguay's ultra-sophisticated urban guerrillas. The Tupamaros become the books strong anti-heros. Their ideals are strong and courageous, and they are extremely passionate. There will be characters in this book that you will even find more interesting then even Mujica. Yes, Mujica was a Tupamaro, but he was by far, not the only interesting one at all. When he does appear in the book however, it is always a pleasure to see this modern day celebrity, as we all know what he comes to be. However, his journey to get there is what counts.Without spoiling anything, I will just say that this book has so many twists and turns that will leave you gasping. Some of the craziest things I've ever read in history happened with the Tupamaros, and even Mujica himself once said that even the greatest author could not have imagined what would happen next. If you have ANY interest in Mujica, revolutions, Uruguay, the CIA, international relations, or if you just like one hell of a story, read this book immediately. You will not be able to put it down, and it will surprise you in the most extreme ways.

Kudos for writing a book about Uruguay in English. My wife is from Uruguay and I want to learn more about the history of her country. There are very few books in English about any time period in Uruguay that I could find. I understand that this book is based on the author's views and the views of other author's writings that are cited. With that being said, its kind of written somewhere in between an academic book and and entertaining non-fiction. Which is the perfect level for me to read for enjoyment. I bought the book because I wanted to learn more about Uruguay's current president Jose Mujica, and while he is certainly not the focus of the book, you do get a lot of information about him and his general character. The one thing I enjoyed the most in this book was the character studies of the various Tupamaros. By the end of the book, you feel like you understand their personalities, you can picture the seedy bars Mujica would hang out at, or the working class disguises of Raul Sendic hiding in plain sight. I think the author does a great job of not labeling anyone in this story "hero" or "villain". He points out a lot of the abuses both sides gave and received. I would love to read another book by a different author on this same time period to compare their interpretations.

I lived in Uruguay during the beginning of the Tupamaros and had always wondered how Jose "Pepe" Mujica, a dedicated guerrilla came out of a long prison term and became a much loved President of Uruguay. This book explained how it happened and in a manner I could understand. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in this small, wonderful country.

I was a little disappointed with the book.I bought it to learn more about the Uruquay president Jose Mujica,and although it does mention him a lot I found the book is more about the Guerrillas and the history of Uruguay.

This book is a gift and looks pretty shabby

An essential read to understand the process transformation from rebel fighters to popular & respected president. The author lives in the Washington beltway, is a security analyst, hence he had access to CIA files. He it appears to me understate the involvement of US agents nevertheless the author a narrative is sympathetic & compelling.

Well written and absorbing, fascinating insight into how it all started, where it went and how it concluded...I wont say anymore but fantastic and we get a glimpse of the fufutre

I bought this after reading about Pepe. Actually it wasn't as much about him as the movement that he came from. Inspiring nonetheless

This is an awesome book telling an amazing story set in a country that very few people pay attention to. Both the way the book is written and the story it tells are interesting, captivating story that goes beyond Pepe Mujica's last decade's popularity and can be either seen as a cautionary tale about the dangers of Communism, or as a testament to the class struggle and consequent popular triumph in South America. Either way, this book not only serves as complete and fascinating narrative of Uruguay's recent history, but also contains in it the genesis of what we now understand as guerrilla warfare and terrorist tactics.