Singer's Needle: An Undisciplined History of Panama

Ezer Vierba's The Singer's Needle offers an innovative history of twentieth-century Panama, exploring power and politics through three critical episodes: the establishment of a penal colony, the judicial drama following President Remon's murder, and the disappearance of a radical priest. Blending historical sociology with novelistic narrative and empirical research, the book redefines conventional methods of historical writing, revealing the nature of power and the contemporary history of a complex country over a tumultuous century.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 352 pages
\n Publication date: 26 November 2020
\n Publisher: The University of Chicago Press
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Ezer Vierba's The Singer's Needle presents a groundbreaking account of twentieth-century Panama, shedding light on the complex dynamics of power and politics within a small yet volatile nation. Through the use of novelistic techniques, Vierba delves into three pivotal episodes that played a significant role in shaping and undermining contemporary Panamanian institutions. These episodes include the establishment of a penal colony on the island of Coiba in 1919, the judicial drama that followed the assassination of President Jose Antonio Remon Cantera in 1955, and the mysterious disappearance of a radical priest in 1971.

The narratives within these episodes are interwoven with diverse styles and perspectives, employing a range of narrative voices that both enlighten and obscure crucial moments that illustrate the profound influence of powerful interests in shaping social and political history. Vierba skillfully blends historical sociology with novelistic narrative and extensive empirical research, drawing upon Michel Foucault's insightful ideas about the interconnectedness of power, interpretation, and representation. The result is a remarkable book that challenges conventional methods of historical writing, offering a fresh and insightful perspective on the past.

In essence, Vierba has crafted a multifaceted and profoundly moving novelistic narrative that unveils not only the nature of power but also the intricate history of a complex country over the course of a turbulent century. This work stands as a testament to the author's exceptional storytelling abilities and his commitment to exploring the intricacies of human experience.

\n Weight: 526g\n
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 24 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780226342450\n \n