InthiscompellinghistoryoftheUnitedFruitCompany,FinancialTimeswriterPeterChapmanweavesadramatictaleofbigbusiness,deceit,andviolence,exploringtheoriginsofarguablyoneofthemostcontroversialglobalcorporationsever,andthewaysinwhichtheirpioneeringexamplesettheprecedentfortheinstitutionalizedgreedoftoday'smultinationalcompanies.ThestoryhasitssourceinUnitedFruit'snineteenth-centurybeginningsinthejunglesofCostaRica.Whatfollowsisadamningexaminationofthecompany'spolicies:fromthemarketingofthebananaasthefirstfastfood,tothecompany'sinvolvementinaninvasionofHonduras,amassacreinColombia,andabloodycoupinGuatemala.AlongthewaythecompanyfosteredcovertlinkswithU.S.powerbrokerssuchasRichardNixonandCIAoperativeHowardHunt,manipulatedthepressinnew,andstokedtherevolutionaryireofCheGuevaraandFidelCastro.FromtheexploitedbananarepublicsofCentralAmericatotheconcretejungleofNewYorkCity,PeterChapman'sBananasisalivelyandinsightfulculturalhistoryofthecovetedyellowfruit,aswellasagrippingnarrativeabouttheinfamousriseandfalloftheUnitedFruitCompany.