Background
Pedraja, René Andrés De La was born on November 26, 1951 in Havana, Cuba. Came to the United States, 1960. Son of Rafael Angel and Ludmila Emma (Toman) De La Pedraja.
( Latin Americans as sailors? This remark caused laughter...)
Latin Americans as sailors? This remark caused laughter among 19th-century foreign observers, particularly British observers. Yet, Latin Americans did struggle to create important merchant fleets, an effort largely ignored outside the region. This book rescues Latin American shipping from oblivion. In a chronological narrative, it presents the most important events in the emergence of Latin American shipping. While focusing on the shipping companies, the book also roams widely into governmental policy, foreign relations, and naval affairs. Divided into two parts, the book opens with a brief summary of the age of sailing ships, then traces the history of the first steamship companies, focusing on Brazil and Chile until 1914. Part I then goes on to analyze the impact of World War I and the Great Depression. Part II considers World War II and U.S. surplus ships. New issues in Latin American shipping, arising in the 1950s, will be discussed in another volume.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/031330839X/?tag=2022091-20
(This book continues the narrative begun by the author in ...)
This book continues the narrative begun by the author in Wars of Latin America, 1899-1941. It provides a clear and readable description of military combat occurring in Latin America from 1948 to the start of 1982. (In an unusual peaceful lull, Latin America experienced no wars from 1942 to 1947.) Although the text concentrates on combat narrative, matters of politics, business, and international relations appear as necessary to explain the wars. The author draws on many previously unknown sources to provide information never before published. The book traces the many insurgencies in Latin America as well as conventional wars. Among the highlights are the chapters on the Cuban and Nicaraguan insurrections and on the Bay of Pigs invasion. One goal of the text is to explain why, of the many insurgencies appearing in Latin America, only those in Cuba and Nicaragua were successful in overthrowing governments. The book also helps explain why even unsuccessful insurgencies have survived for decades, as has happened in Colombia and Peru.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0786470151/?tag=2022091-20
Pedraja, René Andrés De La was born on November 26, 1951 in Havana, Cuba. Came to the United States, 1960. Son of Rafael Angel and Ludmila Emma (Toman) De La Pedraja.
Bachelor, University Houston, 1973. Master of Arts, University Chicago, 1974. Doctor of Philosophy, University Chicago, 1977.
Research professor School Economics, U. de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia, 1976-1985; assistant professor of history, Kansas State University, Manhattan, 1986-1989; assistant professor of history, Canisius College, Buffalo, 1989-1992; associate professor of history, Canisius College, Buffalo, 1992-1997; professor, Canisius College, Buffalo, since 1997.
( Latin Americans as sailors? This remark caused laughter...)
(This book continues the narrative begun by the author in ...)
Member American History Association (life), Conference on Latin American History (life).
Married Beatriz Reyes, June 14, 1975. 1 child, Jaroslav Andrés.