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Who Would Have Thought It?
early hispanic historical romance, orig pub 1872
A major rediscovery-the first novel by a Mexican American Woman
Maria Amparo Ruiz de Burton was the first Mexican American woman to write novels in English and the first nineteenth-century California writer to publish a novel in the aftermath of the Mexican-American War. Her first book, Who Would Have Thought It?, tells the story of Lola, a young, orphaned Mexican girl rescued from Indian captors by one Dr. Norval, who returns with Lola to his New England home. Though the townspeople initially shun the interloper, they become transfixed by Lola once word about the gold accompanying her gets out. Through the riveting personal story of a young girl's coming-of-age, Who Would Have Thought It? offers a stunning portrayal of the clash of cultures and communities, and a fresh perspective on Civil War America.
A major rediscovery-the first novel by a Mexican American Woman
Maria Amparo Ruiz de Burton was the first Mexican American woman to write novels in English and the first nineteenth-century California writer to publish a novel in the aftermath of the Mexican-American War. Her first book, Who Would Have Thought It?, tells the story of Lola, a young, orphaned Mexican girl rescued from Indian captors by one Dr. Norval, who returns with Lola to his New England home. Though the townspeople initially shun the interloper, they become transfixed by Lola once word about the gold accompanying her gets out. Through the riveting personal story of a young girl's coming-of-age, Who Would Have Thought It? offers a stunning portrayal of the clash of cultures and communities, and a fresh perspective on Civil War America.
298 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1872
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
August 10, 2013
M.A.R.D. Burton is the first Mexican-American novelist (a female one to boot) and wrote two novels before her descent into poverty and obscurity. The second, The Squatter and the Don, is available in a Modern Library edition. Penguin Classics have her debut covered. An extremely busy satirical and romantic novel, WWHTI? reads like Dickens done at hyperspeed with plots and characters introduced in splendidly bitchy and melodramatic dialogue scenes, followed by time leaps of months and years, taking us through the Civil War, to Washington DC, to army hospitals, and drawing rooms where the hypocrisy and scheming happens. The bigoted Mrs Norval is the stand-out character, whose stiff Presbyterian attitude towards the Mexican girl Lola offers the racial tension and dramatic drive of the novel, along with the Pecksniffian Reverend Hackwell: a plotting creep and one of the finest scoundrels in Victorian lit yet encountered. On the prose level, Burton is occasionally too chatty and undescriptive, segueing only between plot points and dialogue, but her skill as a satirist and observer, as well as first-rate melodramatist, make this novel a worthwhile read for enthusiasts of the Mexican-American novel, or anyone who likes to see sanctimonious racists get theirs.
March 11, 2023
Está loquísimo esto, una novela costumbrista satírica escrita por una mexicana en inglés y publicada en EU en 1872.
Un matrimonio abolicionista recibe a una niña negra en casa y… en fin la hipocresía. Si se sostiene o no se sostiene como artefacto literario (pa mí no) vale madres, es una joya histórica, realmente interesante y notable, toda Ruiz de Burton lo es, estaba casada con un comandante de la Union y se nota (observaciones de primera mano y una rabia bien fundada). Sus personajes son ambiciosos, ignorantes, algunos de un patetismo casi entrañable, y los debates que se plantean de subtexto están buenos.
No tengo los medios, pero a poco no estaría buenísima una traducción para Vindictas?
Un matrimonio abolicionista recibe a una niña negra en casa y… en fin la hipocresía. Si se sostiene o no se sostiene como artefacto literario (pa mí no) vale madres, es una joya histórica, realmente interesante y notable, toda Ruiz de Burton lo es, estaba casada con un comandante de la Union y se nota (observaciones de primera mano y una rabia bien fundada). Sus personajes son ambiciosos, ignorantes, algunos de un patetismo casi entrañable, y los debates que se plantean de subtexto están buenos.
No tengo los medios, pero a poco no estaría buenísima una traducción para Vindictas?
March 24, 2023
I’m sure what I expected but this was both hilarious and delightfully chaotic
May 6, 2020
1.5/5
I always find myself between a rock in a hard place when it comes to books of a rarely represented demographic on the Anglo side of things that refuses to measure up. More and more often, the reason for my having picked up certain books rests entirely in the interest of excavation, and yet, when the quality is almost entirely lacking, I seek to be honest about such, as I aim to put my days of sucking up to peer pressure far behind me. Once again, satire, satire, satire, and while the author did have some good moments whilst aiming at my favorite target for punching up (hint: it starts with U and ends with A and has a habit of proclaiming itself to be two entire continents despite merely being a single country), it takes a certain skill to ride the line of justified rage and not topple over into either clownish hypocrisy or nonsensical rant, and Burton was unfortunately one or the other most of the time. It certainly didn't help that this otherwise nice looking Penguin Classics edition's customary introduction, end notes, and supplementary material are of a particularly shoddy quality, so unlike my time with East Lynne, I didn't come away with particularly appreciable improvement in my awareness of the author's life and historical venue. Such, however, doesn't excuse the persistent lack of inclusion of this particular work in lists that aim to provide a comprehensive catalog of Penguin Classics and were created more recently than 2009. So, all in all, quite the mess all around in terms of the the audience reception, edition compilation, and the creative composition itself. If Burton was a white guy, we'd have the usual excuses and a 0.2-0.4 increase in average rating, but I suppose that'd make the reading effort a bit too easy.
So, María Amparo Ruiz de Burton was one of the ones whom the border passed over when the United States ate a chunk of Mexico back in the day and thought itself the land of cishet WASP cowboys ever since. It's clear from the contents of this work that she's had a bone to pick ever since with the religion, the government, the capitalism, the machismo, and a host of other things that swamped into her fifteen-year-old view when her hometown surrendered in that often obfuscated Mexican American War. Thanks to the author marrying one of those invading WASPs who ended up climbing the ranks high enough for his wife to chill with the likes of Mrs. Lincoln, Burton has a more credible finger on the pulse point of the government back then. Considering the contemporary face of the US political force, I can well believe in her descriptions of the corruption and cold brutality that ruled the roost of the so called democratic republic. The problem is how uneven the satire is in places: spread too thin in many a section of extended plot, bunched up too thick in extended monologues that are wildly out of character for whichever spokesperson proved most conveniently at hand for last minute delivery. In addition, the fact that 99% of the content sold as satire today is just bigots looking for a shield means I had no patience for doing the song and dance over whether Burton showing a character to be nasty or being nasty herself, especially when other authors have done so much better. So, if you have a particular interest in this corner of history in this particular place, go for it. Otherwise, it's going to be a trudge, and such is not entirely the fault of the author.
So, another swing and a miss, but I'd rather do it reading someone who is of a status similar to the first Mexican American novelist and the first Mexican American woman novelist than the same old, same old. It reminded me of how much this country of mine desperately needs satirizing and how rarely I seek out such due to the poor handling the genre suffers from in modern times. Also, for all its comical absurdities, it offered a welcome contrast to the maudlin obfuscation of 'Lonesome Dove' in terms of specific detail and a lack of fear when it comes to characterization more varied than a nigh unbelievable muddying generality of goodwill. And, on a final, more mercantile note, it's yet another check in the box for a specific publishing line and era of literature and out of the way book by women and all that. Like I said, if you really are in the line of going for that and a few other topics relevant to this particular work's focus, go for it. Otherwise, I prefer Dickens for this kind of topic, and with me, that's saying something.
I always find myself between a rock in a hard place when it comes to books of a rarely represented demographic on the Anglo side of things that refuses to measure up. More and more often, the reason for my having picked up certain books rests entirely in the interest of excavation, and yet, when the quality is almost entirely lacking, I seek to be honest about such, as I aim to put my days of sucking up to peer pressure far behind me. Once again, satire, satire, satire, and while the author did have some good moments whilst aiming at my favorite target for punching up (hint: it starts with U and ends with A and has a habit of proclaiming itself to be two entire continents despite merely being a single country), it takes a certain skill to ride the line of justified rage and not topple over into either clownish hypocrisy or nonsensical rant, and Burton was unfortunately one or the other most of the time. It certainly didn't help that this otherwise nice looking Penguin Classics edition's customary introduction, end notes, and supplementary material are of a particularly shoddy quality, so unlike my time with East Lynne, I didn't come away with particularly appreciable improvement in my awareness of the author's life and historical venue. Such, however, doesn't excuse the persistent lack of inclusion of this particular work in lists that aim to provide a comprehensive catalog of Penguin Classics and were created more recently than 2009. So, all in all, quite the mess all around in terms of the the audience reception, edition compilation, and the creative composition itself. If Burton was a white guy, we'd have the usual excuses and a 0.2-0.4 increase in average rating, but I suppose that'd make the reading effort a bit too easy.
So, María Amparo Ruiz de Burton was one of the ones whom the border passed over when the United States ate a chunk of Mexico back in the day and thought itself the land of cishet WASP cowboys ever since. It's clear from the contents of this work that she's had a bone to pick ever since with the religion, the government, the capitalism, the machismo, and a host of other things that swamped into her fifteen-year-old view when her hometown surrendered in that often obfuscated Mexican American War. Thanks to the author marrying one of those invading WASPs who ended up climbing the ranks high enough for his wife to chill with the likes of Mrs. Lincoln, Burton has a more credible finger on the pulse point of the government back then. Considering the contemporary face of the US political force, I can well believe in her descriptions of the corruption and cold brutality that ruled the roost of the so called democratic republic. The problem is how uneven the satire is in places: spread too thin in many a section of extended plot, bunched up too thick in extended monologues that are wildly out of character for whichever spokesperson proved most conveniently at hand for last minute delivery. In addition, the fact that 99% of the content sold as satire today is just bigots looking for a shield means I had no patience for doing the song and dance over whether Burton showing a character to be nasty or being nasty herself, especially when other authors have done so much better. So, if you have a particular interest in this corner of history in this particular place, go for it. Otherwise, it's going to be a trudge, and such is not entirely the fault of the author.
So, another swing and a miss, but I'd rather do it reading someone who is of a status similar to the first Mexican American novelist and the first Mexican American woman novelist than the same old, same old. It reminded me of how much this country of mine desperately needs satirizing and how rarely I seek out such due to the poor handling the genre suffers from in modern times. Also, for all its comical absurdities, it offered a welcome contrast to the maudlin obfuscation of 'Lonesome Dove' in terms of specific detail and a lack of fear when it comes to characterization more varied than a nigh unbelievable muddying generality of goodwill. And, on a final, more mercantile note, it's yet another check in the box for a specific publishing line and era of literature and out of the way book by women and all that. Like I said, if you really are in the line of going for that and a few other topics relevant to this particular work's focus, go for it. Otherwise, I prefer Dickens for this kind of topic, and with me, that's saying something.
August 13, 2013
The perspective that Ruiz de Burton, a woman born in Mexico, brings to the hypocrisy and underhandedness of United States policy makes her one of the country's essential nineteenth-century writers. She left us only two novels, and neither is terribly satisfying in terms of plot or character development. Who Would Have Thought It?, the first and in my opinion the better of the two, is tedious: A pregnant Mexican woman is abducted by Indians. She marries the tribe's leader, lets the tribe dye her (very white) daughter's skin dark, collects a fortune in gems and gold in a secret riverbed, and prompty dies when she is discovered by the visiting Dr. Norval, the adventuring United States patriarch who agrees to take the daughter (and the fortune) with him back to the United States. This is just the backstory, as the story of Indian capture and the daughter's (Lola's) uncertain identity gradually gives way to a larger, extremely critical narrative about the Civil War, Puritan hypocrisy, the abandonment of the United States' sacred ideals during the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, and, ultimately, the call for women to play a greater role in public politics. The book is messy and feels three-hundred pages longer than it actually is. But for its attempt to pinpoint what Ruiz de Burton believes is the moment when the idealistc bubble surrounding the United States finally burst, it is fascinating. Flawed, but highly recommended for anybody studying the nineteenth century or the history of relations between the United States and Latin America.
July 30, 2009
Wonderful, hilarious satire! Burton has such clever symbolism hidden throughout the book. She makes powerful statements about racism, patriotism, religion and wealth for the time period. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a humorous yet deep read.
Read
January 20, 2016This book was pretty funny for the time period it was written in. Lots of characters and subplots going on, which can make it hard to follow at times. A good book about race and politics during the American Civil War.
November 6, 2020
I read this book for school, and it belongs in the category of literature books that you read at school (sorry Maria Amaparo Ruiz de Burton).
February 21, 2025
CHIC 3507W book 1: Im absolutely loving this class so far but this book was medium. I really liked a lot of the literary aspects to it but overall I’m pretty impartial.
July 28, 2019
Lavinia and Miss Mina were my particular favorites in particular. I think this book would do well as a movie, both because of its cinematic imagery and because that medium might be well-suited to the rotating points of view studied. I admit I found this book a little dense, but it was an interesting read all the same.
September 5, 2019
Reading “Who would have thought it?” felt similar to reading Tolstoy to me. It was filled with social commentary condemning a class that loved to comment on how righteous and good they are and all the while they are committing sins behind closed doors. Basically, hypocrites. WWHTI talks about the Civil War, class, US politics, race, religion and so much more. It was written more than 150 years ago and yet many of its passages resonate today especially with a lot of our current events. Maria Amparo Ruiz de Burton perspective is unique. She is a Mexican-American that presents no favorable picture of any of the Americans that are in this novel. For the North, de Burton presents a society full of people that call themselves abolitionists while thinking racists thoughts, that are willing to lie, steal and commit bigamy for wealth. There are characters that commit acts of cowardice but are rewarded in the government when the narrative of those acts are changed. These people forget who lend them a helping hand to set them where they are and are not willing to return the favors. Instead, they’d rather forget the past and believe that they magically ascended to the top. Two of the characters that I met in the novel completely infuriated me. Hackwell is one of the first characters we encounter. He is a revered who criticizes his people and bemoans his current circumstances while casting stones at Dr. Norval. Dr Norval is a good man who holds the “strange” thought that all men are human no matter how savage others may think them. Hackwell is manipulative and his desires often change the course of the story. Dr. Norval saves Lola Medina, the only Mexican-American we meet in this novel. She is one of the few good characters we meet. The others are Dr Norval and his son Julian. This novel has been labeled a historical novel and it would be easy to dismiss it as that. I’ll admit that there were times when it did read like a soap opera. In its essence, WWHTI is a critique of the United States especially at a unique period of time. Even Lincoln doesn’t come out favorably in this book. De Burton spares no one in her commentary and she shines light on the corruption, the hypocrisy, and the changes that world around her was experiencing. I can’t leave this review without saying that de Burton introduced my most hated character, Mrs Norval. She is the ultimate hypocrite and she took up a good portion of the novel. She is easily manipulated and is further corrupted by her beliefs. She was maddening because there are many real life versions of this woman. This story doesn’t dole out justice in the way most books do. It was very realistic in its ending. All in all this was a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me. I would recommend this reading especially because many passages rang true especially in our current situation. A must read for the twenty-first century reader.
May 25, 2013
People seem more interested in this novel as an artifact than as a literary work.
September 13, 2016
This felt like I was watching an 1850's soap opera. Entirely overdone and wrought with the author's own political agenda.
February 26, 2019
3.5 stars
In a lot of ways, this was like a Jane Austen novel, but better. Unpopular opinion time: I'm not the biggest fan of Jane Austen. I think her novels often drag on endlessly and gloss-over what had the potential to be a great moment of dialogue. Anyway. We're not here to talk about her. We're here to talk about Ruiz de Burton and her novel.
One of my favorite parts about this novel was its heavy use of irony. The narrator of this novel was so unapologetically roasting the main characters that it made this a super fun reading experience. It was making such a sharp criticism of its characters that you couldn't help but laugh at them.
The characters of this novel, though, are difficult to talk about. They're mostly painted as caricatures, but this stunts their development. Although I enjoyed the criticisms Ruiz de Burton was trying to make with these exaggerated characters, it made me feel distanced from them. I didn't feel as connected to the characters as I would have liked. I didn't even feel connected to the more likable characters! Overall, although I understand why they were this way, I couldn't help but feel dissatisfied with how the characters were handled in this novel, in terms of their development and capacity to make me feel attached to them.
Also. I have to note how one of the relationships in this novel made me super uncomfortable. Although nothing happened between them until the end of the novel, Julian's interest in Lola wasn't fun to read about. He first "fell in love" with her when she was fifteen and he was five to seven years older than her and... I'm not down with that shit. It makes me cringe, and I hated having to read it. Nevertheless, the two of them were some of the more tolerable and not obnoxious characters, so do with that what you will.
Moving on! I have to mention that I absolutely loved how this book handled the topic of power and corruption. The characters in this novel all had very distinct reactions when they became wealthy, and this was managed superbly. You could truly see how the sudden acquisition of wealth was capable of transforming a person in a very negative way.
In addition, I find it important to mention that this book suffers from a lot of “telling” and not enough “showing”. I understand this to be partially a product of its time and, to me, it didn't completely ruin the appeal of the novel. I thought that "telling" worked because of the tone and themes Ruiz de Burton was trying to go for.
It should be noted, though, that this book was pretty racist. There were a lot of racial slurs used throughout the whole thing, and it wasn't apologetic about it. The message of this book wasn't "racism is bad". The message of this book was "don't lie about not being a racist when you really are". So, you see the dilemma? It's ultimate message regarding race is questionable, at best.
Finally, I was disappointed by the ending of this novel. There were a lot of lose ends and people didn't get as punished for their terrible behavior as I would have liked. It made the novel feel anticlimactic and lack a final kick to deliver its message.
Overall, I had a really fun time reading this novel. I was glad I had to read it for class. It lends itself incredibly well for analysis, even if it doesn't fit all my requirements for a favorite read.
In a lot of ways, this was like a Jane Austen novel, but better. Unpopular opinion time: I'm not the biggest fan of Jane Austen. I think her novels often drag on endlessly and gloss-over what had the potential to be a great moment of dialogue. Anyway. We're not here to talk about her. We're here to talk about Ruiz de Burton and her novel.
One of my favorite parts about this novel was its heavy use of irony. The narrator of this novel was so unapologetically roasting the main characters that it made this a super fun reading experience. It was making such a sharp criticism of its characters that you couldn't help but laugh at them.
The characters of this novel, though, are difficult to talk about. They're mostly painted as caricatures, but this stunts their development. Although I enjoyed the criticisms Ruiz de Burton was trying to make with these exaggerated characters, it made me feel distanced from them. I didn't feel as connected to the characters as I would have liked. I didn't even feel connected to the more likable characters! Overall, although I understand why they were this way, I couldn't help but feel dissatisfied with how the characters were handled in this novel, in terms of their development and capacity to make me feel attached to them.
Also. I have to note how one of the relationships in this novel made me super uncomfortable. Although nothing happened between them until the end of the novel, Julian's interest in Lola wasn't fun to read about. He first "fell in love" with her when she was fifteen and he was five to seven years older than her and... I'm not down with that shit. It makes me cringe, and I hated having to read it. Nevertheless, the two of them were some of the more tolerable and not obnoxious characters, so do with that what you will.
Moving on! I have to mention that I absolutely loved how this book handled the topic of power and corruption. The characters in this novel all had very distinct reactions when they became wealthy, and this was managed superbly. You could truly see how the sudden acquisition of wealth was capable of transforming a person in a very negative way.
In addition, I find it important to mention that this book suffers from a lot of “telling” and not enough “showing”. I understand this to be partially a product of its time and, to me, it didn't completely ruin the appeal of the novel. I thought that "telling" worked because of the tone and themes Ruiz de Burton was trying to go for.
It should be noted, though, that this book was pretty racist. There were a lot of racial slurs used throughout the whole thing, and it wasn't apologetic about it. The message of this book wasn't "racism is bad". The message of this book was "don't lie about not being a racist when you really are". So, you see the dilemma? It's ultimate message regarding race is questionable, at best.
Finally, I was disappointed by the ending of this novel. There were a lot of lose ends and people didn't get as punished for their terrible behavior as I would have liked. It made the novel feel anticlimactic and lack a final kick to deliver its message.
Overall, I had a really fun time reading this novel. I was glad I had to read it for class. It lends itself incredibly well for analysis, even if it doesn't fit all my requirements for a favorite read.
August 29, 2022
3.5/5
If there's one thing this book is, it's interesting.
1. Writing style. This style probably won't work for everyone, but I actually liked the approach she took. It wasn't overly descriptive or flowery so it's more focused on dialogue and exploring character relationships. The narrator addresses the reader (as is typical for these types of novels), so that was fun, and overall, the novel is pretty funny.
2. Plot. There are a lot of moving parts in this novel, some of which are engaging, some of which were a slog to get through. However, the fast-paced writing, interesting overarching plot, and large cast of characters made it so the uninteresting parts didn't last too long. Love a good ensemble story!
3. Perspective. I've read quite a few 19th century American novels, but most of them have been written by white authors. I think this is the first novel from this time period I've read by a Mexican-American author, so it was interesting to get an idea of how Ruiz de Burton understood American society and the Civil War.
4. It's highly satirical and sentimental, and that's the point. It's self-aware of this fact and intentionally overexaggerates the qualities that make it so, to the point of beating you over the head. Still, many of the satirical elements served the story.
5. Satire emphasizes the politically didactic messages of the novel---again, to the point of beating the reader over the head. This is one aspect of the novel I did not love at some points. I don't mind a didactic novel (I mean, Little Women is one of my favorite books) but from a contemporary lens, some of the lessons this novel tries to teach are highly problematic; namely, in order to paint Mexicans in a good light the author berates Native Americans and the Black community. And look, I understand this was published in the 1870s, the standards were different, and she used this as a way to cope with the racism she herself faced, but I still think it's important to address it in the present so these mistakes aren't repeated.
Overall, I mostly liked this? I hated the ending, but I do feel like I got something out of it at least. The novel as a whole is quite different (in a good way) just be aware of the historical time period it's set in.
If there's one thing this book is, it's interesting.
1. Writing style. This style probably won't work for everyone, but I actually liked the approach she took. It wasn't overly descriptive or flowery so it's more focused on dialogue and exploring character relationships. The narrator addresses the reader (as is typical for these types of novels), so that was fun, and overall, the novel is pretty funny.
2. Plot. There are a lot of moving parts in this novel, some of which are engaging, some of which were a slog to get through. However, the fast-paced writing, interesting overarching plot, and large cast of characters made it so the uninteresting parts didn't last too long. Love a good ensemble story!
3. Perspective. I've read quite a few 19th century American novels, but most of them have been written by white authors. I think this is the first novel from this time period I've read by a Mexican-American author, so it was interesting to get an idea of how Ruiz de Burton understood American society and the Civil War.
4. It's highly satirical and sentimental, and that's the point. It's self-aware of this fact and intentionally overexaggerates the qualities that make it so, to the point of beating you over the head. Still, many of the satirical elements served the story.
5. Satire emphasizes the politically didactic messages of the novel---again, to the point of beating the reader over the head. This is one aspect of the novel I did not love at some points. I don't mind a didactic novel (I mean, Little Women is one of my favorite books) but from a contemporary lens, some of the lessons this novel tries to teach are highly problematic; namely, in order to paint Mexicans in a good light the author berates Native Americans and the Black community. And look, I understand this was published in the 1870s, the standards were different, and she used this as a way to cope with the racism she herself faced, but I still think it's important to address it in the present so these mistakes aren't repeated.
Overall, I mostly liked this? I hated the ending, but I do feel like I got something out of it at least. The novel as a whole is quite different (in a good way) just be aware of the historical time period it's set in.
March 16, 2023
As a story, this is just okay (a little zany, a lot of conveniences, not so realistic characters) but as a piece of history it's fascinating.
It captures a segment of American culture that was little written about elsewhere: the range of mindsets among mid to upper class Northerners during and after the Civil War. They are mostly anti-slavery but they are also racist. Some are pro-war, some not, but their attitudes towards Black, Latino and Indigenous people are mostly to treat them as an underclass, not worthy of the rights, roles or opportunities that white people have. The book's characters are incredibly classist as well, but white people can rise (and fall) while people of color cannot.
The book is also fascinating as a cultural artifact. It parodies popular forms of the time without actually overcoming them to be something new. It's one of the first books that was published by a Mexican-American woman and her perspective is interesting and fresh. She write about gender, class, race and religion in ways that, while mired in their time, are honest and not oversimplified. I liked that she let the messiness and hypocrisy of the people in the right (the North, President Lincoln) shine through.
The character names are extreme and on-the-nose (Hackwell, Blower, Cackle) and most of them are truly awful people. Their confidence in themselves varies but most are self-obsessed and care only to climb the social or political ladder. In the end, almost no one gets their come-uppance, which is a bold and realistic choice. For the most part, they're fun to read about.
The plot moves along at a quick pace and Ruiz de Burton doesn't bother with cliffhangers, drawn out descriptions, or other devices, she lets the humor carry the story.
It captures a segment of American culture that was little written about elsewhere: the range of mindsets among mid to upper class Northerners during and after the Civil War. They are mostly anti-slavery but they are also racist. Some are pro-war, some not, but their attitudes towards Black, Latino and Indigenous people are mostly to treat them as an underclass, not worthy of the rights, roles or opportunities that white people have. The book's characters are incredibly classist as well, but white people can rise (and fall) while people of color cannot.
The book is also fascinating as a cultural artifact. It parodies popular forms of the time without actually overcoming them to be something new. It's one of the first books that was published by a Mexican-American woman and her perspective is interesting and fresh. She write about gender, class, race and religion in ways that, while mired in their time, are honest and not oversimplified. I liked that she let the messiness and hypocrisy of the people in the right (the North, President Lincoln) shine through.
The character names are extreme and on-the-nose (Hackwell, Blower, Cackle) and most of them are truly awful people. Their confidence in themselves varies but most are self-obsessed and care only to climb the social or political ladder. In the end, almost no one gets their come-uppance, which is a bold and realistic choice. For the most part, they're fun to read about.
The plot moves along at a quick pace and Ruiz de Burton doesn't bother with cliffhangers, drawn out descriptions, or other devices, she lets the humor carry the story.
April 12, 2020
This isn't the greatest of novels--the characters' psychology is bewildering, and the plot is fairly plodding and either mechanical or unbelievable. But this is a very interesting book for historical reasons. It offers a cynical view of profiteering during and after the Civil War, with de Burton's Cackles the American cousins of Dickens' Barnacles.
February 18, 2019
It was pretty interesting to read the first book written by a mexican living in the US back in the day. It was interesting to see their view point as everything changed around them and it is also really interesting to try to figure out what the title is referring to.
January 15, 2021
Great book for reading if you're really interested in 19th century American lit. Romantic, satirical, political, etc. Lots of characters, most of whom are scoundrels one way or another. Readers who stick to contemporary fiction might not find it compelling.
March 27, 2023
A really excellent novel, I found myself really sucked into the story. It effortlessly satires the hypocrisy of the supposedly abolitionist and progressive New England society, mocks the cowardly politicians and figures of the Civil War, all while keeping us deeply enthralled in its narrative.
February 13, 2024
Ruiz’s satirical voice is unlike anything I’ve read from literature in the 1800s. I loved her criticism of American politics and her commentary on society as a whole was actually funny. Though, it was terribly slow at some points.
April 26, 2020
A dreadful work of early American literature.
February 1, 2022
so funny and so engaging. delicious
February 8, 2023
the mother was the worlds most god awful women i have ever read about
February 25, 2023
Entirely hilarious but a bit slow
January 14, 2024
Pretty amazing
The author lived a very interesting life and the book's forward in describing her background sets the tone for the book and makes it more enjoyable.
The author lived a very interesting life and the book's forward in describing her background sets the tone for the book and makes it more enjoyable.
February 16, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
September 19, 2025
2.5⭐️
Good for a 19th Century Novel.
Good for a 19th Century Novel.
February 18, 2025
Historical context behind this book and the author is endlessly fascinating, but I did not really enjoy the book as a whole.
2.5
2.5
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