PATRIOTS PLAY

About the Book

In this exciting and fast-moving novel, PATRIOTS PLAY, four Uruguayan college students become involved in the brutal operations of the Tupamaro guerrilla movement that is trying to overthrow Uruguay’s democratic government in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s.  Frico, the son of a wealthy family, is inspired to devote his life to the Tupamaro cause by a communist high school teacher.  Trying to keep his love, his girl friend, Mariana, takes part with him in bank robberies and a kidnapping.   Frico’s close cousin, Jorge, whose family owns vast ranches, and his fiancee, Lea, also join the Tupamaros because of Frico.  An American high school girl living at the time in Montevideo  plays a crucial part in the story.  These young people meet death, violence and betrayal and have their lives changed forever by the political upheaval in Uruguay.

About the Author

As an American diplomat’s wife, Virginia Sampson lived in Chile, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, and Mexico. She has published short stories and travel articles and taught creative writing. She now lives in Chapel Hill, N.C. with her husband where she leads a writers’ workshop.