author
Charles Hardy
A former Catholic priest, educator, and writer, he is best known for Cowboy in Caracas, a memoir shaped by years living in one of Caracas’s poorest neighborhoods. His work brings together firsthand reporting, political reflection, and a deep interest in Latin America.
1 Audiobook
About the author
Born in 1939, Charles "Charlie" Hardy is an American writer, educator, and former Catholic priest. Sources about Cowboy in Caracas describe him as someone who spent more than twenty years in Venezuela, including years living in a cardboard-and-tin shack in a Caracas barrio, experiences that gave his writing a close-up view of daily life and political change.
His best-known book, Cowboy in Caracas: A North American's Memoir of Venezuela's Democratic Revolution, draws on those years to explain Venezuela’s social and political upheaval through personal stories rather than distant commentary. Publisher and library descriptions also note that he wrote and spoke about Latin America for decades and traveled widely across Central and South America.
Hardy has also been active in public life in the United States. Confirmed sources identify him as an educator, speaker, and political candidate in Wyoming, adding another dimension to a career that has moved between ministry, teaching, writing, and civic engagement.