El Mesquite: A Story of the Early Spanish Settlements Between the Nueces and the Rio Grande

Rio Grande/Río Bravo: Borderlands Culture and Traditions

by Elena Zamora O'Shea, Leticia M. Garza Falcón (Introduction), Andrés Tijerina (Introduction)

The open country of Texas between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande was sparsely settled through the nineteenth century, and most of the settlers who did live there had Hispanic names that until recently were rarely admitted into the pages of Texas history. In 1935, however, a descendant of one of the old Spanish land-grant families in the region—a woman, no less—found an ingenious way to publish the history of her region at a time when neither Tejanos nor women had much voice. She told the story from the perspective of an ancient mesquite tree, under whose branches much South Texas history had passed. Her tale became an invaluable source of folk history but has long been out of print. Now, with important new introductions by Leticia M. Garza-Falcón and Andrés Tijerina, the history witnessed by El Mesquite can again inform readers of the way of life that first shaped Texas. Through the voice of the gnarled old tree, Elena Zamora O'Shea tells South Texas political and ethnographic history, filled with details of daily life such as songs, local plants and folk medicines, foods and recipes, peone/patron relations, and the Tejano ranch vocabulary. The work is an important example of the historical-folkloristic literary genre used by Mexican American writers of the period. Using the literary device of the tree's narration, O'Shea raises issues of culture, discrimination, and prejudice she could not have addressed in her own voice in that day and explicitly states the Mexican American ideology of 1930s Texas. The result is a literary and historic work of lasting value, which clearly articulates the Tejano claim to legitimacy in Texas history.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Read For School

160 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2000

Reviews

[Dusty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Apparently it is possible to narrate a novel from the perspective of a tree. In this book's case that tree is a mesquite -- named the Palo Alto by the Spanish settlers who discovered it -- and it resides in southern Texas, in the vicinity of the town we now call Corpus Christi.

In her introduction, schoolteacher-turned-author Elena Zamora O'Shea laments that textbooks tell biased accounts of "history", which in her opinion "should be told as a fact, pleasant or unpleasant". O'Shea desires an objective chronicle of southern Texas, one that rightfully acknowledges that Spanish settlers were the first to settle the area -- hence the anthropomorphized mesquite tree narrator, who is nonhuman and unbiased and able to provide first-hand witness testimony for 300 years of colonization.

A commendable project -- but O'shea has her own motives in mind, namely her desire for recognition of the Spanish-speaker as rightful heir to southern Texan lands, and these motives necessarily prevent her history from becoming wholly objective (as if such a thing is possible). It's significant that the Palo Alto is a baby tree when the Spaniards first arrive. But, you ask, wasn't there any history worth mentioning before the arrival of the Europeans? Weren't there other people who lived on the dark western continent before it was discovered by Columbus?

The answer in this book is mostly NO, though indigenous people do surface from time to time, for missionaries need pagans to save, aristocrats need guards for their livestock and Texas Rangers need rebels to subdue.

[Catalina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
Such a thoughtfully crafted story!!!! This is for plant enjoyers and history enjoyers. I shed a single tear!

[Guadalupe McCall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite invaluable information regarding that time period in TX history...great resource

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this because my daughter is going to live in Southern Texas for the next year and a half. I loved it! I skimmed through the analysis from the professors at the beginning-- I wanted to read it first then go back. The story gives a glimpse into the formation of the Rio Grande area and its settlers. It is such a unique area with a unique culture-- Spanish, Irish, and Indigenous people all living together. The Mesquite tree tells of the first Garcia from Spain that settled in the valley and started a ranch around the mid 1500's. The tree tells the story of the family up to the more modern times of the author (early 1900's). It is poetic and informative. Obviously, if you want a more extensive history of the people in that area, this only scratches the surface. It is meant to give the reader an idea of the family generations that have formed the valley into what it is today. Loved it! Lo recomiendo a todos :)

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

El Mesquite tells the story of Texas passing from being part of Mexico to becoming part of the United States. Zamora wrote this novel at a time where her voice meant very little by society standards but her intelligence and passion for the story of her family's land bleeds through the entire book. You see, the book is told from the point of view of a tree, un mesquite, as it watches generations of Zamora's family. Zamora's family was actually a rather prominent one with her father participating in the Cinco De Mayo battle agains the French army and President Porfirio Diaz being affiliated with him as well (so much so that he asked for his blessing when running for his presidency).

This book is such a rare gift. It was enthralling to read as someone who is Mexican and I imagine that it must be all that more meaningful if you are a Mexican-American living in Texas. I think few accounts exist that detail history as intimately and I feel lucky to have stumbled upon this one.

[Maricia Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! It is so rare to find books with information about life in the early days of Spanish settlement in Texas. The book is filled with so many details of their way of life. Some of these customs like the torna boda are still alive. I especially liked how through the narration by the Mesquite historical events are told. It is a must read for Texas students, especially those from South Texas.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful and thought provoking book about the a life from the point of view of a Mesquite tree.

Growing up in a place where nature only allowed post-oaks and Mesquite trees, this book made me look at those strong scaly trees in a different way. I always wondered as a kid if trees had a soul and this book brought back those thoughts I had as a child.

Life is a little easier after thinking about life as a tree. If you're looking for a unique insight into the past of the RioGrande valley and maybe a new way to look at life this book should be on your radar.
DS

[Benjamin Ayala · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful touch of history

The novel is a great addition to the scarce amount of historical fiction or literature generated from Chicano writers. The story is a very insightful take on the early settlement of what we know today as Texas.

[Connor Leavitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Foundational text of Chicano/a literature.

Best when paired with the analytical work, "Historical Recovery, Colonial Mimicry, and Thoughts on Disappearing Indians" by Kirby Brown. It demonstrates *why* O'Shea holds some of the racial attitudes expressed in the work.

[Natalie Medina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Must Read for Anyone Interested in the History of Early Mexican Americans

This is a must read for anyone interested in the history of early Mexican Americans and the time period between 1575 and the early 1800’s.

[pj · Rating 2 out of 5]

i appreciate what it was doing but really not my style of writing and yeah. definitely not my thing...

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the fact that the narrator is a tree--and the ways the author uses that perspective to tell the untold story of Texus before it became apart of the United States.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mesquite tree is the narrator in this historical fiction book. It tells about the settling of the Nueces County area. The ending was so heartwarming.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a nice read recommended by my professor. It's quick to read, and you're able to finish in one sitting.

[Brett Bosley · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fantastic little* book. A narrative of the history of the Tejanos, as told by a mesquite tree.

*It's only 80 pages.

[Madeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Animal metaphors…..

[ػᶈᶏϾӗ]

Rich, if racially and genderly problematic.

[Jessie S. Inouye · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was most fascinating book about the early Spanish settlers to Texas as far back as the sixteenth century. I loved reading about Elena Zamora O' Shea and her personal background prior to the publication of this book.

This story was written so that the reader's interest does not slow down and the book is one that one doesn't want to put down until it is finished. I would definitely recommend this book to a friend.