'This vivid new biography of Evita Peron (arguably the most prominent woman in politics in the mid-twentieth century) is well-informed, thoughtful, and perceptive. Jill Hedges portrays both the light and the shade of Evita's spectacular, but brief- and in many ways tragic- life. This is an exercise that includes judiciously sorting through much of the salacious gossip provoked by the spectacular rise of an impoverished young actress. Along the way the study illuminates many fascinating aspects of Argentine social history. It covers not only her remarkable life, but also the extraordinary tale of her afterlife. Much more accurate than the musical, the true story is almost as gripping.' - Laurence Whitehead, Senior Research Fellow, Nuffield College, Oxford, 'Eva Peron's meteoric rise from provincial actress to the most powerful woman in Latin American politics is a story well worth telling. Loved and hated in equal measure, her image and legacy endures to this day, and credit must be given for her considerable achievements in the areas of social policy and women's rights. Jill Hedges has written a sympathetic, remarkably even- handed, and highly readable biography of Eva Peron that cuts through the many myths that surround her life, and adds much to our understanding both of the person and the political phenomenon that became "Evita".' - Maxine Molyneux, Professor of Sociology, UCL Institute of the Americas, 'The myths surrounding Peronism continue to generate misunderstanding about Argentina in the rest of the world. Perhaps the worst of all misconceptions about that complex political phenomenon is the don't-cry-for-me-Argentina vision of Eva Peron that has been so superficially and unfairly implanted in the public's mind by popular culture. Now comes a carefully researched and elegantly written biography by Jill Hedges to separate myth from reality and to help all of us understand Evita more profoundly, as a product of circumstances as well as a tragic but inspiring force for social justice. Jill Hedges does not only demystify and demythologize the iconic personality of Evita; she lays down the facts and she analyzes them with keen observation and the emotional detachment necessary to all rigorous social science enterprises. But she also adds to our comprehension of Evita's triumphs as well as defects with a woman's sensibility and empathy. Time has softened the hatred that Evita's enemies in Argentina spewed against her even long after her death. Most Argentines now either love Evita's memory or respect her for her many accomplishments. And yet the caricature of Evita (and that of Peronism) lingers on outside of Argentina. This book will go a long way to dissipate mischaracterizations and lightweight analysis; we can now proceed with our different and reasonable interpretations of history, but we cannot ignore the facts of Evita's life and legacy.' - Juan E. Mendez, Professor of Human Rights Law in Residence, Washington College of Law