This is the story of the seven extraordinary young men who gave their lives for South America's independence in the early years of the nineteenth century. They were Francisco de Miranda, who narrowly escaped the guillotine in France and impressed both George Washington and Catherine the Great; Simon Bolivar, an aristocrat with innumerable lovers, who led guerrilla armies through the swamps and jungles; the inarticulate San Martin and his comrade Bernardo O'Higgins, the illegitimate son of a Spanish viceroy; Admiral Lord Cochrane, the colourful Scottish nobleman known as the 'Sea Wolf'; Iturbide, cashiered for extortion and subsequently Emperor of Mexico; and Crown Prince Pedro of Portugal, who turned against his father and brought independence to Brazil. Despite their great daring and ultimate success, all seven died amid pathos and tragedy.