nblinks

[email fragment] My Central American history didn't have that much on [19th century privateer/American meddler in politics south of the border William] Walker -- only said that the Nicaraguan Liberals invited him to come help them defeat the ruling Conservatives, which he did, installing a shadow government which was recognized only by the United States -- all which angered the Conservative governments in neighboring states, hence the attack led by the Costa Rican general.

I spent a few minutes trying to dig up a bit more. First, here are some titles of published biographies of Walker:

_William Walker: The Grey-Eyed Man of Destiny_ by Alejandro Bolaños Geyar
_Sad Swashbuckler: The Life of William Walker_ by Noel Bertrom Gerson
_Freebooters Must Die! The Life and Death of William Walker, the Most Notorious Filibuster of the Nineteenth Century_ by Frederic Rosengarten
_Filibusters and Financiers: The World of William Walker and His Associates_ by William O. Scroggs
_The World and William Walker_ by Albert H. Z. Carr

Next, a longish and goodish historical essay on Walker, putting the facts in more or less astounding order.

And, for local color, a Costa Rican take on the subject, including many a majestic malapropism and memorable turn of the phrase.

Oh, there's also a 1987 movie about him, _Walker_, starring Ed Harris.