Books with author Charles F. Gripper

Though Nicaragua is today thought of as a developing, war-torn country rife with scandal, the country enjoys a long, rich history. In 1502, Christopher Columbus was the first European to reach present-day Nicaragua as he sailed along the coast of Central America. Later conquered by the Spanish, the local Indian civilizations suffered from diseases brought over by the conquistadores and were enslaved to work in valuable mines. Nicaragua gained its independence in 1838, but the region often became embroiled in civil wars. Violent opposition to the government and corruption spread to all classes by 1978, and in 1979, the Marxist Sandinistas gained power. Free elections saw the Sandinistas defeated, and the first female president in the Americas was democratically elected in 1990. Violeta Barrios de Chamorro provided stability that the country had lacked for more than 10 years. Unfortunately, since she failed to dismantle the Sandinista Popular Army, Nicaragua is now again in the hands of Daniel Ortega and the Sandinista-led government. The gains won by democratic institutions face new challenges under the Ortega administration. In Nicaragua, learn about the vibrant culture, geography, history, and current state of this Central American country.

This book, part of the "Modern World Nations" series. Chapters cover geography, history, people and culture, government and politics, the economy, and possibilities for the future. The text is dense and presented in very long sentences and paragraphs, so even though the book is small and might appeal to younger readers, the narrative will probably work best for the older end of the age range. The book also includes several elements to help students doing research, including a list of pertinent facts, history highlights, a bibliography, suggestions for further reading and research, and a detailed index.

The only country in South America to border both the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, Colombia is the continent's fourth-largest country and has the second-largest population behind Brazil. The country's terrain is also one of the most physically diverse in South America, with snow-capped volcanoes, swampy marshes, tropical savannahs, and lush rain forests dotting its landscape. The country is variously made up of people of European, African, and Native American descent, and both the Spanish language and Catholic religion bring these diverse groups together. Colombia takes students on an in-depth journey through this geographically and ethnically varied nation. Handsomely illustrated with full-color photographs and peppered with maps and concise facts at a glance and history at a glance features, this book is a comprehensive exploration of the people, culture, history, geography, environment, economy, and government of Colombia.