In this singular narrative of a country that often mystifies outsiders, Osío Cabrices brings to life the pivotal moments that led Venezuela to its current state of crisis—revealing the ways any healthy democracy can begin, imperceptibly, to cave in on itself. He grew up in a free, modern, oil-rich country, while much of Latin America lived under the shadow of brutal dictatorships, and witnessed as a young journalism student the economic crisis that led to the international perception of Caracas as a haven for organized crime. And he saw the devastatingly powerful false hope the election of Hugo Chávez brought to so many of his friends, before the slow creep of authoritarianism took over of every facet of the government and economy.

Told through vivid scenes of his trips back to visit his father and other friends and relatives, after his decision to leave the country in the wake of the worsening shortages and crackdowns on press freedoms, Osío Cabrices’s fascinating, on-the-ground account of Venezuela’s contemporary history holds stark lessons for all of us.

Twilight in Venezuela reads like an unforgettable conversation with a deeply informed friend, who dispels the myths and misinformation and reveals, as few can, what it feels like when History sneaks up behind you and turns your world upside down.