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THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES

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by Ernesto Che Guevara (1967)

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A young pre-revolutionary Che journeys throughout Latin America with his mate Alberto. Part coming-of-age adventure story and part travelogue, Che’s diary is replete with direct observations and critical reflections. As they are both recent medical graduates, the trip takes in visits to doctors in different countries, and to numerous hospitals. Beginning in the south, the pair travel through Argentina and on into Chile upon a single motorcycle named La Ponderosa. Later, as the bike refuses to go on, the two-wheeled companion is abandoned, and the travellers continue without a vehicle. Heading north, Che and Alberto hitchhike along the roads and receive lifts to various towns and cities. The pair continue in this way throughout Peru and into Colombia, before finally reaching Venezuela. Along the way, Che and Alberto sleep in police stations, the spare beds of locals, and under the stars. They each scrounge for food daily, sometimes filling their bellies and sometimes going without. They visit the leper colonies at Huambo and San Pablo. In all, Che and Alberto’s journey is a quest for deeper knowledge interspersed with some folly and madcap misadventure. Non-fiction. 157 pages.

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DETAILS:

Title: The motorcycle diaries

Year: 1967

Author: Ernesto Che Guevara

Pages: 157

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Book review by Keith Salter