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Book Reviews 

Senderology, the study of the Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) guerrilla insurgency in Peru (1980–92), continues to generate a steady level of academic interest. Robins (North Carolina State Univ.) attempts to justify the need for a new monograph on the topic by conducting interviews in the understudied province of Huancavelica. While welcome, this research does not really add anything new to current understandings of the Shining Path, but rather only confirms existing interpretations. The author of previous works on Huancavelica, such as Mercury, Mining, and Empire (CH, Mar'12, 49-4050), Robins's attempt here to argue for the uprising's colonial roots falls short when much more proximate causes are more compelling. Rather, the book's true value lies in its use as a short and accessible monograph with a capable survey of the existing literature and a competent summary of events. The book appears in the "History of Warfare" series, but its treatment is not limited to military history, which means that it will have broader appeal. Unfortunately, Brill’s predatory pricing strategy means that it is not viable for classroom adoption, and libraries with limited budgets will balk at the price.

Summing Up: Recommended. General readers through faculty; professionals.

 

 

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