John Charles Chasteen is professor of history emeritus at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and author of Born in Blood and Fire, the best-selling history of Latin America.

Facilitates connections and comparisons across Latin America

John Chasteen's pioneering, integrative approach weaves a concise, chronological narrative-covering 500 years of history in approximately 400 pages-and makes connections and comparisons across all of the countries and regions of Latin America. The fourth edition's twelve chapters are organised by recognisable periods from 1492-present and, within each chapter, the narrative is framed around Latin America's three largest countries: Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. The remaining seventeen nations are sprinkled throughout the text, serving as examples of variations on common themes and patterns throughout Latin American history. With captivating storytelling, Chasteen exposes subtle nuances and colourful characters as we march through five centuries of history.

Newly updated with fresh cultural analysis of the Latin America of both past and present

The fourth edition features the best scholarship and cutting-edge interpretations as it integrates up-to-date cultural analyses on race, gender and class into the narrative. New coverage includes:

- A new introductory chapter that connects the patterns and trends of Latin America today with those from the Encounter era, including recent changes in the region such as extractive booms, a growing middle class, gay marriage and legalisation of marijuana.

- A more thoroughly developed discussion on the importance of transculturation in the Latin American experience.

- Fascinating discussion of gangs and drug wars in Central America, and of unaccompanied migrating minors in for-profit detention.

- A thoroughly revised last chapter, "Neoliberalism and Beyond", that examines nationalist politics after Chavez, the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between the US and Cuba, the legalisation of marijuana in Uruguay and more.

- Expanded contextualization for selections in the companion reader, Born in Blood and Fire: Latin America Voices.

A vibrant new full-colour design

The fourth edition continues to offer students more for less with a new full-colour design. An updated illustration and map programme throughout further enhances the reading experience. This includes a new "Tour of Latin America" map feature that offers a brief country-by-country introduction and reference section and establishes the political boundaries of modern Latin America while highlighting the geographical diversity of each region.

The perfect companion reader

A thematic anthology of primary sources from Latin American social and cultural history, Born in Blood and Fire: Latin American Voices, second edition follows the table of contents of Born in Blood and Fire, fourth edition and draws on newspapers, novels, magazines and journals-many translated by Chasteen himself-to present compelling narrative accounts of life and society across Latin American history. Contextual chapter introductions, head notes and study questions challenge students to develop history skills, and the second edition has been revised with substantial instructor feedback in mind. A new chapter, "Speaking for Themselves", focuses on writers of indigenous and African descent, while 19 new selections-at least one in every chapter-highlight several new materials.

A rich support package at no additional cost, now including a new Test Bank

The fourth edition includes all of the resources students and instructors need for a successful course, including new author videos, a new Test Bank, a new student quizzing platform, a new ebook and a wealth of art and lecture PowerPoint slides supplemented by the author himself.