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Santa Anna of Mexico
Antonio López de Santa Anna (1794–1876) is one of the most famous, and infamous, figures in Mexican history. Six times the country’s president, he is consistently depicted as a traitor, a turncoat, and a tyrant—the exclusive cause of all of Mexico’s misfortunes following the country’s independence from Spain. He is also, as this biography makes clear, grossly misrepresented.
Drawing on seventeen years of research into the politics of independent Mexico, Will Fowler provides a revised picture of Santa Anna’s life, with new insights into his activities in his bailiwick of Veracruz and in his numerous military engagements. The Santa Anna who emerges from this book is an intelligent, dynamic, yet reluctant leader, ingeniously deceptive at times, courageous and patriotic at others. His extraordinary story is that of a middle-class provincial criollo , a high-ranking officer, an arbitrator, a dedicated landowner, and a political leader who tried to prosper personally and help his country develop at a time of severe and repeated crises, as the colony that was New Spain gave way to a young, troubled, besieged, and beleaguered Mexican nation.
Deconstructing the myths surrounding Santa Anna’s life, the book offers a fresh view of a critical chapter in Mexico’s history.
Drawing on seventeen years of research into the politics of independent Mexico, Will Fowler provides a revised picture of Santa Anna’s life, with new insights into his activities in his bailiwick of Veracruz and in his numerous military engagements. The Santa Anna who emerges from this book is an intelligent, dynamic, yet reluctant leader, ingeniously deceptive at times, courageous and patriotic at others. His extraordinary story is that of a middle-class provincial criollo , a high-ranking officer, an arbitrator, a dedicated landowner, and a political leader who tried to prosper personally and help his country develop at a time of severe and repeated crises, as the colony that was New Spain gave way to a young, troubled, besieged, and beleaguered Mexican nation.
Deconstructing the myths surrounding Santa Anna’s life, the book offers a fresh view of a critical chapter in Mexico’s history.
527 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2007
24 people are currently reading
278 people want to read
About the author
Will Fowler
158 books15 followersWill Fowler is Professor of Spanish at the University of St Andrews, where he has taught since 1995. He earned his PhD at the University of Bristol and worked as a lecturer in Spanish at Leicester Polytechnic (subsequently renamed De Montfort University) for four years before joining the University of St Andrews.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 24, 2020
I'm no Mexican history scholar, but the few reviews here and about the aether surprise me, since this is a fine revisiting of the reputation of this most reviled 19th century figure. For me, my sole memory of Santa Anna comes from that obesely patriotic Disney crap-fest about Davy Crockett, where all the rednecks at the Alamo trying to keep Texas clotted with slaves all died trying to steal another country's land.
But Santa Anna was so much more than a clipped and smug youth referent coyly distributed in dire if hilarious times for purposes of irony whose targets do not comprehend it.
Much maligned, well, let's just say, excoriated, in Mexican historiography and culture, Santa Anna get the revisit by the capable Fowler, who digs deep into the historical record and even some new sources and gives a more complicated, less-assholish picture of the perennial Mexican scapegoat.
The argument can be broken down simply into a few parts. Santa Anna was a landowner and soldier primarily who hated politics and would occasionally step in in the interests of his country when shit really began to hit the fan. Mid-century Mexico was rife with political nonsense and cliques all vying for power while various foreign intrusions did no favors, especially the Americans to the north. His own views were carefully calculated and he was an astute guy, certainly not to blame for a lot of the awful things that happened to Mexico at the time. He was no great political thinker and his adroitness came from his ability to know when to intervene. What came after was usually something he went with, rather than vice versa.
It's nice to see these kinds of revisitations, since image and idea often trump reality. Haha, get it?
But Santa Anna was so much more than a clipped and smug youth referent coyly distributed in dire if hilarious times for purposes of irony whose targets do not comprehend it.
Much maligned, well, let's just say, excoriated, in Mexican historiography and culture, Santa Anna get the revisit by the capable Fowler, who digs deep into the historical record and even some new sources and gives a more complicated, less-assholish picture of the perennial Mexican scapegoat.
The argument can be broken down simply into a few parts. Santa Anna was a landowner and soldier primarily who hated politics and would occasionally step in in the interests of his country when shit really began to hit the fan. Mid-century Mexico was rife with political nonsense and cliques all vying for power while various foreign intrusions did no favors, especially the Americans to the north. His own views were carefully calculated and he was an astute guy, certainly not to blame for a lot of the awful things that happened to Mexico at the time. He was no great political thinker and his adroitness came from his ability to know when to intervene. What came after was usually something he went with, rather than vice versa.
It's nice to see these kinds of revisitations, since image and idea often trump reality. Haha, get it?
February 20, 2017
Santa Anna of Mexico is about Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, the six-time president of Mexico. Santa Anna partook in most major events in the first 40 years of Mexican independence. Americans might know his as the cruel Mexican general of The Battle of the Alamo in Texas. He was a charismatic and wily man, entwined with and representative of the problems of early Mexico. He is hated today in Mexico, with no roads or statues to his honor; Fowler presents a complex man living through complex times.
WHY THIS BOOK?
1. Santa Anna pops up in southwestern history. He was the general at the Alamo. He lost a leg in the Pastry War. He conned James Polk during the Mexican-American War. Eventually, I had to read his biography.
2. Although the United States has only two neighbor countries, I know almost nothing about the history of either.
THE GOOD
Go look at the heads of state of Mexico on Wikipedia. For the first 30 years, only one lasted his whole term. 19th century United States sometimes seems dysfunctional; we’ve got nothing on Mexico. How did Mexico turn out so differently? This book helped me understand that a little.
Santa Anna’s biography is a great way to learn the (ridiculously complex and confusing) early history of Mexico. Santa Anna’s personal history parallels his country’s history. Fowler splits Santa Anna’s career into four stages: Hope (1821-28), Disenchantment (1828-35), Disillusion (1835-47), and Despair (1847-53).
Fowler portrays a complex Santa Anna. Santa Anna is blamed as the man who lost Texas, the man who lost the Mexican-American War (ceding half the country to the US), and the man who signed the humiliating Gadsden Purchase (ceding some more land to the US). He was also the Hero of Tampico, fending off a Spanish invasion, and the hero of the Pastry War, in which he lost a leg. In the Mexican-American War, he returned from exile in Cuba and valiantly fought when all others seemed paralyzed by infighting. The man had more lives than a cat. He was incredibly opportunistic, but he was also brave and believed in Mexico.
Fowler also describes Santa Anna as a caudillo. The caudillo, or strongman, is a political tradition in Latin America tracing to Spain’s colonial policies. The caudillo amassed money, land, and influence regionally; if his region was nationally influential enough, he would be nationally influential. Santa Anna became the caudillo of Veracruz, the large and crucial port of Mexico.
Donald Trump has been called the “Yankee Caudillo” in Latin American press. There are parallels. Santa Anna attacked the political parties as corrupt; he claimed to stand apart from the evils of partisanship and to fight for the people. Santa Anna stayed relevant with his wealth in Veracruz; likewise Trump stayed relevance with his global brand. Both men were constantly near power, but able to claim a mantle of purity. Like Trump, Santa Anna preferred to campaign (this time in the military sense). Santa Anna rarely held power for more than six months because he didn’t care to govern. (This is in contrast to other caudillos who held power for extended periods of time.) My understanding is admittedly superficial, but learning about Mexico’s politics gave me another perspective on American politics.
THE BAD
I struggled with the first few chapters. I was constantly consulting Wikipedia or a map. If you know little Mexican history, this book is absolutely readable, but it’s challenging.
OVERALL
Santa Anna is absurd, but Fowler explains him well. Santa Anna’s antics are so intimately a part of Mexico’s early struggles for democracy.
Santa Anna, like Mexico’s early failure, is so tragic. What could Mexico have accomplished if only they had achieved the stability of the early United States? Were the United States lucky to have achieved stability from the very beginning?
Finally, the caudillo concept provides insights into much of Latin America, and perhaps into the United States.
WHY THIS BOOK?
1. Santa Anna pops up in southwestern history. He was the general at the Alamo. He lost a leg in the Pastry War. He conned James Polk during the Mexican-American War. Eventually, I had to read his biography.
2. Although the United States has only two neighbor countries, I know almost nothing about the history of either.
THE GOOD
Go look at the heads of state of Mexico on Wikipedia. For the first 30 years, only one lasted his whole term. 19th century United States sometimes seems dysfunctional; we’ve got nothing on Mexico. How did Mexico turn out so differently? This book helped me understand that a little.
Santa Anna’s biography is a great way to learn the (ridiculously complex and confusing) early history of Mexico. Santa Anna’s personal history parallels his country’s history. Fowler splits Santa Anna’s career into four stages: Hope (1821-28), Disenchantment (1828-35), Disillusion (1835-47), and Despair (1847-53).
Fowler portrays a complex Santa Anna. Santa Anna is blamed as the man who lost Texas, the man who lost the Mexican-American War (ceding half the country to the US), and the man who signed the humiliating Gadsden Purchase (ceding some more land to the US). He was also the Hero of Tampico, fending off a Spanish invasion, and the hero of the Pastry War, in which he lost a leg. In the Mexican-American War, he returned from exile in Cuba and valiantly fought when all others seemed paralyzed by infighting. The man had more lives than a cat. He was incredibly opportunistic, but he was also brave and believed in Mexico.
Fowler also describes Santa Anna as a caudillo. The caudillo, or strongman, is a political tradition in Latin America tracing to Spain’s colonial policies. The caudillo amassed money, land, and influence regionally; if his region was nationally influential enough, he would be nationally influential. Santa Anna became the caudillo of Veracruz, the large and crucial port of Mexico.
Donald Trump has been called the “Yankee Caudillo” in Latin American press. There are parallels. Santa Anna attacked the political parties as corrupt; he claimed to stand apart from the evils of partisanship and to fight for the people. Santa Anna stayed relevant with his wealth in Veracruz; likewise Trump stayed relevance with his global brand. Both men were constantly near power, but able to claim a mantle of purity. Like Trump, Santa Anna preferred to campaign (this time in the military sense). Santa Anna rarely held power for more than six months because he didn’t care to govern. (This is in contrast to other caudillos who held power for extended periods of time.) My understanding is admittedly superficial, but learning about Mexico’s politics gave me another perspective on American politics.
THE BAD
I struggled with the first few chapters. I was constantly consulting Wikipedia or a map. If you know little Mexican history, this book is absolutely readable, but it’s challenging.
OVERALL
Santa Anna is absurd, but Fowler explains him well. Santa Anna’s antics are so intimately a part of Mexico’s early struggles for democracy.
Santa Anna, like Mexico’s early failure, is so tragic. What could Mexico have accomplished if only they had achieved the stability of the early United States? Were the United States lucky to have achieved stability from the very beginning?
Finally, the caudillo concept provides insights into much of Latin America, and perhaps into the United States.
September 27, 2013
Simplemente la mejor biografía que he leido de Santa Anna, Recomendado al 100%, buena documentación, bibliografía completa, bien redactado, no tiene momentos de enfado al leerlo.
Si te gusta la historia de México y en especial el siglo XIX definitivamente este libro debes de leerlo.
La vida de Santa Anna tan complicada y tan diversa como el tiempo que le tocó vivir. El libro esta mucho mejor que el de Catón. Narrando desde su nacimiento y familia hasta su muerte en 1876 a la sorprendente edad de 82 años (para su época). Lo que mas me gusta del libro es la documentación que explica el autor de donde y cómo la consiguió.
No hay personaje tan recordado y muchas veces odiado por todos como Santa Anna pero que me causa la más grande admiración por todo lo que realizó y vivió para contarlo. Simplemente hay que leerlo para comprender un poco a Santa Anna y el tiempo que le tocó vivir.
Si te gusta la historia de México y en especial el siglo XIX definitivamente este libro debes de leerlo.
La vida de Santa Anna tan complicada y tan diversa como el tiempo que le tocó vivir. El libro esta mucho mejor que el de Catón. Narrando desde su nacimiento y familia hasta su muerte en 1876 a la sorprendente edad de 82 años (para su época). Lo que mas me gusta del libro es la documentación que explica el autor de donde y cómo la consiguió.
No hay personaje tan recordado y muchas veces odiado por todos como Santa Anna pero que me causa la más grande admiración por todo lo que realizó y vivió para contarlo. Simplemente hay que leerlo para comprender un poco a Santa Anna y el tiempo que le tocó vivir.
February 11, 2025
La biografía de Santa Anna que escribió el historiador Will Fowler es una investigación rigurosa. No obstante, no es un libro memorable, ni será considerada la mejor obra que versa sobre el famoso “villano” de los mexicanos.
Como investigación histórica, la biografía cubre irreprochablemente las exigencias. La recolección de documentos es impecable. La organización de datos es congruente. La narración que da sentido a la cronología, a la información inédita y al relato nacionalista heredado es consistente. Como trabajo académico, la biografía funciona. Y esto necesita aplaudirse, porque circulan demasiados bodrios sobre Santa Anna escritos por historiadores y aficionados a la historia. Quienes busquen información verídica, aléjense de pobrezas como los tomos de Enrique González Pedrero, y acérquense a Fowler.
Pero, como dije, estas exigencias cumplidas no son suficientes para que el libro sea un verdadero buen libro de historia. Por más que busqué, el Antonio López de Santa Anna de Fowler no tiene vida. Este Santa Anna es un documento. Aunque Fowler introdujo lamentaciones, esperanzas, ambiciones, traiciones en la mente del caudillo, ninguno de estos rasgos es lo suficientemente poderoso. Creo que Fowler está demasiado concentrado en desmentir la mitología mexicana que convirtió a Santa Anna en el villano irredento de todos los tiempos. Y esto es lo que impide a Fowler ofrecer un libro de historia lleno de vida. Solamente quiere convencer al público del desengaño. El libro tropieza constantemente en la tentación de ser un panfleto propagandístico.
Otros libros, menos exactos, sí han logrado insuflar de vida a Santa Anna. Ahí está el de Enrique Serna, El seductor de la patria. Permanecemos aún a la espera del libro histórico, no el ficticio, que le dé vida a Santa Anna.
Como investigación histórica, la biografía cubre irreprochablemente las exigencias. La recolección de documentos es impecable. La organización de datos es congruente. La narración que da sentido a la cronología, a la información inédita y al relato nacionalista heredado es consistente. Como trabajo académico, la biografía funciona. Y esto necesita aplaudirse, porque circulan demasiados bodrios sobre Santa Anna escritos por historiadores y aficionados a la historia. Quienes busquen información verídica, aléjense de pobrezas como los tomos de Enrique González Pedrero, y acérquense a Fowler.
Pero, como dije, estas exigencias cumplidas no son suficientes para que el libro sea un verdadero buen libro de historia. Por más que busqué, el Antonio López de Santa Anna de Fowler no tiene vida. Este Santa Anna es un documento. Aunque Fowler introdujo lamentaciones, esperanzas, ambiciones, traiciones en la mente del caudillo, ninguno de estos rasgos es lo suficientemente poderoso. Creo que Fowler está demasiado concentrado en desmentir la mitología mexicana que convirtió a Santa Anna en el villano irredento de todos los tiempos. Y esto es lo que impide a Fowler ofrecer un libro de historia lleno de vida. Solamente quiere convencer al público del desengaño. El libro tropieza constantemente en la tentación de ser un panfleto propagandístico.
Otros libros, menos exactos, sí han logrado insuflar de vida a Santa Anna. Ahí está el de Enrique Serna, El seductor de la patria. Permanecemos aún a la espera del libro histórico, no el ficticio, que le dé vida a Santa Anna.
March 13, 2021
¡Fantástico libro! Bueno, con algunos detalles de impresión, pero el contenido valió mucho la pena. Me lo recomendaron porque soy santanista, sí, muchos me odiarán por eso, y seguro que a Will Fowler también. Este historiador escocés también podrá ser criticado porque es un extranjero, pero ¿se han dado cuenta de que muchos extranjeros, sobre todo anglosajones, son los que han intentado ser más objetivos con respecto a nuestra historia? Fowler no sólo vino a México varias veces y pasó mucho tiempo en archivos en Xalapa, Veracruz, Ciudad de México, Puebla, etc., sino que indagó en cartas y archivos en Estados Unidos (Texas, sobre todo) e Inglaterra; su historia sobre el máximo caudillo mexicano del siglo XIX no está contaminada de la idea popular de que Santa Anna fue el diablo que vendió al país ni lo que la SEP nos intenta vender como un personaje vil y perverso, ésta es una historia más centrada en la realidad, en la persona, en su humanidad, en sus motivaciones, en el contraste con el oficialismo, en cómo mucha de las fuentes se perdieron cuando en 1855 se fue en su último exilio ya que los juaristas destruyeron todo en sus haciendas para hacernos olvidar lo que Santa Ana hizo en su pasado: luchar contra los españoles en 1829, contra los franceses en 1838, contra los texanos y gringos en 1836 y 1847, en todas las batallas que luchó, las que ganó, las que perdió, las que lo condenaron, las que lo glorificaron. Un libro, en resumen, que muestra otro lado de la historia, y del cómo Fowler intenta hacernos ver lo que Santa Anna significó para México: el que le dio república al país, su himno, su educación pública, su identidad cuando aún no la teníamos. Todo amante de la historia mexicana tiene que leer este libro.
May 25, 2024
I've always suspected there was more to this man than was commonly perceived. All too often Santa Anna is portrayed as an incompetent buffoon, a forerunner of the Banana Republic presidents of today. Fowler set out to write an objective biography and succeeded in doing so. The portrait is of a patriot of many talents and foibles. The Generalissimo was skilled both politically and militarily, but woefully inconsistent.
December 22, 2024
Acabo de terminar esta biografía de Santa Anna por el investigador británico Will Fowler y he de comentar, con gran satisfacción, que se trata de una obra magnífica. El trabajo de Fowler destaca, en mi opinión, por presentar el cambiante contexto social, político y económico del México decimonónico no sólo como telón de fondo, sino como co-protagonista de su relato.
La labor de investigación de Fowler, documentada en el libro con cierto detalle, sugiere que el tratamiento y el tipo de fuentes utilizadas permiten, confiablemente, una nueva mirada a la vida y el impacto que tuvo el General Santa Anna en la vida política, social y cultural de su tiempo. Aunque no se percibe la fluidez narrativa, novelesca, de otros biógrafos como Rafael F. Muñoz, el texto se lee fácilmente, y las conexiones presentadas permiten un seguimiento que no requiere mucho esfuerzo. Además, la forma en que se "rebana el pastel" (aludiendo al finado Le Goff) dota a la obra de una estructura narrativa muy interesante donde, al final de casi cada capítulo, hay un cliffhanger que invita a continuar leyendo con singular alegría.
Resulta fácil encontrar en el discurso de Fowler, si así se desea, una apología del personaje más vilipendiado de la historia nacional. Y es que, aunque definitivamente no se trata de una obra propagandística maquinada por el General Tornel, resulta evidente el objetivo de deconstruir, repensar, y apreciar con otra mirada al injustamente demonizado Don Antonio López de Santa Anna. Queda a discreción de quien lee seguir consumiendo el discurso de la historia oficial y tradicionalista, o considerar que el contexto y sus transformaciones son determinantes a la hora de juzgar a los personajes históricos.
Mi única y gran queja de la edición que adquirí, es precisamente el trabajo de edición que, como mínimo, es mediocre y negligente. Muy mal por Editorial Crítica, que nunca imaginé que entregaría un producto tan descuidado.
En cualquier caso, el trabajo del Profesor Fowler se percibe de excelencia y constituye una lectura totalmente recomendada.
La labor de investigación de Fowler, documentada en el libro con cierto detalle, sugiere que el tratamiento y el tipo de fuentes utilizadas permiten, confiablemente, una nueva mirada a la vida y el impacto que tuvo el General Santa Anna en la vida política, social y cultural de su tiempo. Aunque no se percibe la fluidez narrativa, novelesca, de otros biógrafos como Rafael F. Muñoz, el texto se lee fácilmente, y las conexiones presentadas permiten un seguimiento que no requiere mucho esfuerzo. Además, la forma en que se "rebana el pastel" (aludiendo al finado Le Goff) dota a la obra de una estructura narrativa muy interesante donde, al final de casi cada capítulo, hay un cliffhanger que invita a continuar leyendo con singular alegría.
Resulta fácil encontrar en el discurso de Fowler, si así se desea, una apología del personaje más vilipendiado de la historia nacional. Y es que, aunque definitivamente no se trata de una obra propagandística maquinada por el General Tornel, resulta evidente el objetivo de deconstruir, repensar, y apreciar con otra mirada al injustamente demonizado Don Antonio López de Santa Anna. Queda a discreción de quien lee seguir consumiendo el discurso de la historia oficial y tradicionalista, o considerar que el contexto y sus transformaciones son determinantes a la hora de juzgar a los personajes históricos.
Mi única y gran queja de la edición que adquirí, es precisamente el trabajo de edición que, como mínimo, es mediocre y negligente. Muy mal por Editorial Crítica, que nunca imaginé que entregaría un producto tan descuidado.
En cualquier caso, el trabajo del Profesor Fowler se percibe de excelencia y constituye una lectura totalmente recomendada.
November 25, 2023
Biografía que nos acerca más al hombre y nos aleja del mito que hay alrededor de Antonio López de Santa Anna. Un hombre con muchos claro oscuros y contradicciones. Culpado de traidor, chaquetero y dictador, pero al mismo tiempo olvidando el hecho de que fue el primero en buscar la creación de la República, el que buscaba ser el defensor de la nación ante invasiones extranjeras y establecer el órden cuando las luchas internas desangraban al pueblo mexicano. No es un héroe, ni un villano, es un hombre que hizo lo que pensó era lo correcto en el tiempo y en las circunstancias que le tocó en suerte vivir.
December 17, 2024
Muy buena biografía de Will Fowler.
Me quedo con lo de que Santa Anna era un hombre de su tiempo, con sus (variadas) virtudes y (muchos) defectos.
Mi opinión personal es que en su última presidencia (1853-1855) dilapidó su credibilidad con las medidas autocráticas que impuso y, al cobrarse lo que "la patria le debía" con el dinero de la venta de La Mesilla, borró de un plumazo los méritos de sus actos previos.
Me quedo con lo de que Santa Anna era un hombre de su tiempo, con sus (variadas) virtudes y (muchos) defectos.
Mi opinión personal es que en su última presidencia (1853-1855) dilapidó su credibilidad con las medidas autocráticas que impuso y, al cobrarse lo que "la patria le debía" con el dinero de la venta de La Mesilla, borró de un plumazo los méritos de sus actos previos.
January 8, 2022
Este famoso personaje de la historia de México siempre me ha fascinado.
Leer toda su historia, su ascenso, su caída, demuestra y me confirma varias cosas que ya sabía de antemano. Tuvo sus victorias, al igual que tuvo errores enormes, pero no era traidor como lo pinta la historia. Sin duda él fue un chivo expiatorio. Pero como dice el dicho, la historia lo escriben los vencedores.
Leer toda su historia, su ascenso, su caída, demuestra y me confirma varias cosas que ya sabía de antemano. Tuvo sus victorias, al igual que tuvo errores enormes, pero no era traidor como lo pinta la historia. Sin duda él fue un chivo expiatorio. Pero como dice el dicho, la historia lo escriben los vencedores.
November 30, 2021
Solid biography of Santa Anna. Wished there was more details on his life and times in exile - probably a lack of sources, but whole years in exile abroad seem covered in a few paragraphs (or diverted to discussing political events without him) before he gets back to the action in Mexico.
February 7, 2022
Excelente libro, lo recomiendo ampliamente. Esta muy accesible de leer y con una visión neutral. Da un entendimiento bastante global del siglo XIX
June 25, 2023
Biografía necesaria para entender quién fue Santa Anna. Bien documentada, objetiva y de fácil lectura.
July 10, 2024
Amazing story, complexly changed my understanding of Mexico in the 19th century, a few typos and some mislaid chronology and a few of the themes are over repeated, but I would definitely recommend.
September 15, 2024
Excellent read. I have a new perspective of this amazing historical character.
February 22, 2025
Balanced and interesting account of a fascinating historical figure.
July 25, 2021
I read this book after I visited the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas. I was struck by the “religious” atmosphere at the Alamo, even though the place is entirely devoid of anything spiritual. It was like the epicenter of American exceptionalism and Nationalistic religion. The histories told on site were pretty clearly hagiographies. My teenage nephew even picked up that it was propaganda and not history, which wasn’t difficult since there was no pretense of neutrality. Santa Anna was painted as a one-dimensional satanic figure. I then discovered that he was viewed much the same way by most Mexicans.
Will Fowler shows in this biography that reality, as always, is more complex than the accepted narrative. Santa Anna was a real person with multiple reasons for the decisions he made. Further, both Mexican and Texan politicians often forced his hands. In the end, Fowler gives us a picture of a brilliant and incredibly flawed man. I highly recommend this book.
Will Fowler shows in this biography that reality, as always, is more complex than the accepted narrative. Santa Anna was a real person with multiple reasons for the decisions he made. Further, both Mexican and Texan politicians often forced his hands. In the end, Fowler gives us a picture of a brilliant and incredibly flawed man. I highly recommend this book.
January 2, 2019
Creo que sí hace falta algo de distancia para emitir juicios sobre Don Antonio López de Santa Anna... o, no es que haga falta, pero ayuda. Y si lo que se dice está sustentado en una buena investigación, pues ya vamos de gane.
November 8, 2015
An intriguing, nuanced, unbiased portrait of one of history's most hated figures.
April 15, 2017
Fowler succeeds in defending the legacy of Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, a man both hailed as liberator and hero, and cursed as tyrant and traitor. Post-revolutionary Mexico presents the chaotic alternative to the democratic experiment in the United States; an environment ripe for a military leader to be turned to time and again to save a new nation from its devastating internal conflicts. Unfortunately for Santa Anna, he saved his gravest errors for late in his life, when the people who were most familiar with his patriotic record were dying away. Fowler rebuts the critics who claim that Santa Anna was a political chameleon only ambitious for personal wealth and glory, by demonstrating that he was, on the contrary, inconsistently consistent in wanting what was best for his country. It is circumstances that changed, not Santa Anna’s loyalty. As with many biographers toward their subject, Fowler does, at times, downplay real faults, such as detaching Congressional actions of the 1830s from Santa Anna while he was not in the capital—appearing to forgive the president for not being where he was supposed to be. Santa Anna’s rise to power paralleled Andrew Jackson’s in the US; his fall into oblivion, that of James Buchanan. Santa Anna of Mexico is a concise version of a complex, stranger-than-fiction life.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews