Lula of Brazil

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva&apos;s dramatic life story has captured the imagination of millions, and his progressive politics have brought hope and excitement to Brazil—and the world. This compelling work is the first major English-language biography of the metalworker who became president of Latin America&apos;s largest and most powerful country. In a clearly written, vividly detailed narrative, Richard Bourne describes Lula&apos;s childhood hardships in an impoverished family, his days as a revered trade unionist, and the strike movement that brought down Brazil&apos;s military dictatorship. The book chronicles Lula&apos;s campaigns for the presidency, his first term in office beginning in 2002, a major corruption scandal, and his reelection in 2006. Throughout, <I>Lula of Brazil </I>connects this charismatic leader&apos;s life to larger issues, such as the difficulty of maintaining a progressive policy in an era of globalization. Brazil&apos;s contemporary history, parallels with other developing countries and other world leaders, the conservatism of Brazilian society, and other themes provide a rich backdrop for assessing the struggles, achievements, and failures of this major figure on both the Brazilian and the world stage.