I have read this book in 1993 for the first time and I have re-read it at different occasions since then. The topic of the book, the making of Argentina, follows the line open by many social scientists who, like Anderson, treat the origin of states as foundational and orientational myths. Nevertheless, far from vindicative or apologetic, the book itself implies a serious analysis of the historical development of third world nationalisms. On this line, Shumway permanently tries to indicate the implicit or explicit political purpose present in the philosophical, artistic and journalistic discourse of the nineteenth century local bourgeoisie. These three, together with the chronological sequence follown, are the core of the material used by the author. All in all, it might be said that, having been written by an American specialist on local affairs, the book has - from the view of an Argentine teacher of History in highschool - Ahumway has acchieved a remmarkable work. The freshness and the wit of the outsider observer together with the objectivity of the passionate researcher who tries - to the best of his capabilities - to resist the traditional biases that still characterize our political debates are the two facts that have impressed me the most..