Jorge Basadre and the idea of the peruvian nation, 1870-1930

Abstract

In reaching closer to my purpose in this brief essay, let me say how in the roll of such impressive individuals, whose lives were tainted by that bittersweet nineteenth century Latin American experience of "wanting country" (as another member of the group put it on still another memorable occasion), Basadre's figures among those of the first rank. Had he written nothing else but Perú: problema y posibilidad that would have sufficed to assúre him a leading place among the greats of his country's nationalist tradition.