Many Mexicos

by Lesley Byrd Simpson

A classic history of Mexico in a special edition

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Anthropology

Hardcover

First published May 2, 1960

Reviews

[David Groves · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book I have read in ten years. Upon finishing it, I wanted to go right back and read it again, just to burn it into my memory.

Not only is this book informative about all the right things, but it also has a great wit and knowing attitude. You get a sense that you are being told a story by a great old lady who knows everything, including every leader's motives and interests. Often, I read histories that are simply a summing up of leaders and wars, with no muscles and ligaments to connect them. This is the rare exception. It gives an entire world-view at the same time that it informs you which damn thing led to the next damn thing.

Nineteenth-century Mexican history is depressing, to be sure, but this story is structured so that you understand what lay behind everything. Santa Anna's life story, which could better be described as supreme narcissism, is summarized in one chapter, which is excellent, because he was a cat with eleven lives--that is, eleven separate reigns as president. In covering Santa Anna thus, Simpson covers not just one leader, but an entire era, including the various other leaders who led the country in between times.

Yes, Simpson views Mexico through a liberal US prism, but that prism reflects my sympathies. I don't care that the Catholic Church disapproves of free speech, secular education, and freedom in general. I don't care that Mexican nationalists may long for the days of the old haciendas, when labor fell in line and suffered at their whim, or Mexican conservatives who believe that foreign powers had a right to rape the economy and the masses. I consider liberal representative American democracy to be the highest form of government.

What attracted me to this book was the legendary Robert Kirsch's recommendation that it is the best book on Mexican history, and being an author myself, I can attest that Kirsch was right, that this book is superior in style, content, and voice. I would dearly like to meet Lesley Byrd Simpson, this charming and erudite story weaver, but alas, I am decades too late.

[Kirstie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb overview of foundational themes in the story of Mexico (only caveat being that author uses the word "primitive" more than zero times). As both a Mexican and American citizen, I consider this book invaluable for understanding the nation that is either home or neighbor to most of North America.

[John Damon Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Americans should probably read this.

[Moira Crone · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because it was a history of Mexico when I was there. It does discuss all the changes in regime up until the 1960's but it is condescending it seems.

[Dane Langnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book on Mexican history. Certainly dated and now out-of-date. It was written in 1961, I believe, so obviously it's missing 70 years of important happenings. I was entirely unfamiliar with Mexican history before 1810, so it was very worthwhile to learn about the administrative processes of the Spaniards ruling over the Native people. A totally different form of slavery than we are used to in the USA. It also explains the historical factors regarding current conflicts over land distribution very well.

[Bob · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first chapters of the book, which traced the progress of Spanish institutions in New Spain with even-handedness and simple exposition. Simpson´s treatment of Mexico following independence seemed superficial and dismissive and, of course, ends in the 1950´s, before the PRI had ceased to be the only political party in national government.

[Hilary · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is so damn old and boring that I finally ended up using it as insomniac reading to put me to sleep. Don't read it.

[Louis Lampe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possibly the only accurate book in English on early Mexico.