The Girondins of Chile

T"he Girondins of Chile tells of the strong influence that the European revolutions of 1848 had in Chile, and how they motivated a young Santiago society with high cultural aspirations but little political knowledge or direction. Benjamin Vicuna Mackenna, a Chilean writer and historian who lived during those days in Santiago relates the events of the time, events in which he was a participant. He pays special attention to how the "1848" revolutions influenced a group of young liberals he called "Chilean Girondins." When revolution came to Santiago in 1851, Vicuna Mackenna found even himself sentenced to death for taking part in the uprising. He escaped, spent some years in exile, and was able to return in 1855. He remained active in politics, yet his account of what happened to the "Chilean Girondins" in the 1851-2 revolution was not published until 1876.

Cristián Gazmuri is Director of Instituto de Historia, Pontífica Universidad Católica de Chile and Member of the Chilean Academy of History. John H. R. Polt is Professor of Spanish, Emeritus, at the University of California, Berkeley.