John C. Horst's Blog, page 38

Emiliano Zapata, Anarchist or Jeffersonian Agrarian?

Continuing with our Truth is Stranger than Fiction series, we consider the politics of Emiliano Zapata, hero of the Mexican Revolution.

In the Mule Tamer III, Marta’s Quest, we witness an interaction between Marta and Captain Pedro del Calle on the subject of Emiliano Zapata’s politics. Del Calle, a military man naturally assumes that what he’s read in the newspapers is true, that Emiliano Zapata is an anarchist and will bring the country down, and the red menace will soon spread north, into the United States.
 
The great John Steinbeck, who knew a little about being painted with the red brush, asserted that Emiliano Zapata was, by his actions and words, a Jeffersonian Agrarian, despite the accusations fomented by Hearst and other papers, such as the Rockefeller owned El Imparcial.
 
Steinbeck’s reasoning on this issue was, that despite the help given to Zapata in crafting his plan of Ayala by the zealous anarchist Otilio Montaño Sánchez, he was interested in land ownership for all people, and neither a state collectivism or monopoly by hacendados. He wanted all people to have access and the right to land ownership, or have lands that were stolen from them returned.

But Hearst and others in the US had a specific interest in maintaining the status quo. They liked the totalitarian dictatorship style of Porfirio Díaz and his minions, and as Hearst was a considerable landholder in Mexico, he had a lot to lose by allowing the Zapatistas to prevail. Thus he made the hero out to be an out-of-control proponent of anarchy or anarcho-communism.

The general's toenails

In The Mule Tamer III, Marta's Quest, we meet a terrible general with halitosis and mycotic toenails.
In keeping with our Truth is Stranger than Fiction Theme, we bring to you a real-life monster in the form of one José Victoriano Huerta Márquez. Just as it is comforting to know that Adolf Hitler suffered from constant bowel issues, we'd hope that "the general" was vexed with something along the sames lines, perhaps painful and disgusting untreated  mycotic tonails?
According to an excellent article, the real general was: " Drunk, sadistic and treacherous..."
Rosa King, whose “ Tempest Over Mexico” is required reading for any student of the Mexican Revolution, was his landlady during his stay at her Cuernavaca hotel, while he hunted down Zapatistas (and anyone who looked like they might be a Zapatista — meaning, basically — everybody), stringing them up and engaging in a scorched earth policy across Morelos State said of him:
He himself drank heavily, and nearly every evening had to be led off to bed; but he was always up in the morning bright and early, looking as though he were not even acquainted with the odor of drink.
(Source~By Peter Krupa | Published: March 23, 2010. Lat/AM Daily.)

The Mule Tamer III, Marta's Quest, latest 5 star review

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommend this series!, August 14, 2012 By  JoAnn Brown - See all my reviews This review is from: The Mule Tamer III, Marta's Quest (Kindle Edition) AGAIN John has wowed me!
There was one thing though I hated about this book...That was starting the last chapter! This meant that the ride was over for this series! I've had the honor of being allowed to read all three books. They were wonderful, he is a great writer; I experienced humor, action, excitement, feelings, even love and everything in between with these books. I've watched (or read) the daughter grow and the characters become stronger. I got very attached to the characters and hated to see the story end.
This last book was especially interesting with the history behind it. Marta is definitely Chica's daughter!
Thank you again for the books and I do hope you keep me posted on your next venture in writing, can't wait to see what you come up with next!

The Mule Tamer III, Marta's Quest and The Amdassador

In The Mule Tamer III, Marta's Quest we see a despicable villain in concert with another despicable villain, The General.
In reality there was a true villain in the form of one Henry Lane Wilson, pictured, who was directly responsible for the overthrow and murder of the legitimate president Francisco I. Madero and his vice-president, José María Pino Suárez, during La decena tragica (The Ten Tragic Days) in February 1913.
Wilson referred to Madero as a "lunatic" and unable to rule the country. In reality, he was concerned with Madero’s liberal and left leaning ways.
At the end of the Ten Tragic Days, General Victoriano Huerta and Félix Díaz (nephew to the former and ousted president) met in Wilson's office to sign their treaty, which became known as the Pact of the Embassy. Signing this pact, Huerta and Díaz agreed to overthrow Madero and to put Huerta into the presidential seat.
Wilson never regretted his actions. In his memoir Diplomatic Episodes in Mexico, Belgium, and Chile. (Washington, NY: Kennikat Press, 1927) he wrote,
"After years of mature consideration, I do not hesitate to say that if I were confronted with the same situation under the same conditions, I should take precisely the same course."
Source:EmersonKent.com http://www.emersonkent.com/history_notes/henry_lane_wilson.htm

Another Five Star Goodreads Review

David Caldwell 's review Jul 28, 12 
This is the third part in the Mule Tamer Trilogy. I am not sure this story should truly be labelled a western. Perhaps a better designation would be historical mystery or suspense. It is set in 1911 and tells the story of the two Walsh girls as they return to the Del Toro ranch in Mexico. (Spoiler removed, see Goodreads for entire review). The story combines historical figures and events with a thrilling story and engaging characters to make an excellent story. The younger generation of Walshes prove that they can hold their own when it comes to adventure. Rebecca is a softer version of her father Arvil. She always has a smile on her face but can hold her own when trouble starts. Marta is a younger version of her mother Chica. She knows how to be a lady but is filled with a zest for life that is hard to deny. Overall this installment is a great finish to the story of the Walsh family. I highly recommend this novel and the entire series.

The Mule Tamer is at #1 for Westerns on Amazon, Thanks!

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,530 Paid in Kindle Store #1 in  Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Fiction > Genre Fiction > Westerns #1 in  Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Westerns

Great Goodreads 5 Star Review for The Mule Tamer III, Marta's Quest

Steve White 's review Jul 26, 12
Read from July 22 to 25, 2012
This was my favorite of the three. The story was so well crafted and anchored down with historical events. I am so sorry to see this story end, but they all have to, and this one went out on the best note possible. Can't wait to see what you have in store for us next, John.

The Mule Tamer, Latest 5 Star Review

5.0 out of 5 stars The Mule Tamer, August 1, 2012 By  Barbara - See all my reviews This review is from: The Mule Tamer (Kindle Edition) I really enjoyed this book. I've never read a western before and was a little hesitant but this carried my interest throughout. The writing style was very visual, as I read it I could so easily see what was going on in my minds' eye. I couldn't wait to get back to it at the end of the day, and loved the character "Chica". What a woman! I have the next book in the series and can not wait to start reading it. Good job John Horst. It was entertaining and fun.

The Mule Tamer, III, Marta's Quest, Goodreads Review

From E.C., Goodreads member:
5 Stars:
I just had the pleasure of finishing, The Mule Tamer III: Marta's Quest, the third and final installment in The Mule Tamer Trilogy by John C. Horst and I was not disappointed. In the first two books we are introduced to Arvel Walsh and Chica, a ranger and a feisty but loving Mexican daredevil. They face many battles and trials but through it all discover their love for each other and the wild west and join together to form a family. Enter Rebecca and Marta. Rebecca is Chica and Arvel's only biological child, but they adopted Marta into their family when they rescued her from a gang of bloodthirsty Mexican bandits. Ten years later Marta and Rebecca are inseparable, Rebecca is a thoughtful, loyal, and seemingly quiet girl of nineteen and Marta is quite the opposite. Marta is strong, willed, bawdy, and always looking for a good adventure. They have just finished their schooling in Maryland and are supposed to vacation in Paris for a few months before going to college (did I mention that their grandmother is quite wealthy?) but plans change when Marta wants to check on her estate in Mexico (her Uncle was also quite wealthy). Mexico is going through some troubled times and Marta becomes even more nervous when she discovers that men want to buy her land to strip it for gold and oil. Since the duo is inseparable, Rebecca decides to join Marta on her trip to Mexico and they hope their parents won't realize where they're going.

On the ship from Maryland to Mexico, Rebecca becomes immediately smitten with young engineer, Robert Curtin. They have a whirlwind romance that I at first thought was ridiculously fast (he proposes to her within 48 hours!!) but in comparison to Romeo and Juliet who have a three day relationship (as a 13 year old and a 17 year old!) that results in the death of six people, I realized that Robert and Rebecca's fast road to love wasn't really that far fetched, plus their relationship continues to grow as the story continues. Not to be left behind Marta also starts to swoon for Marine captain, Pedro del Calle but isn't so quick to give her heart (or her virginity away), which is interesting because as a character she is much more of a risk taker and thrill seeker, however when it comes to relationships she is much more reserved. Once they make it to Marta's land they realize that they are in a pretty deep mess. Can their new lovers be trusted or are they just out for their land? I highly recommend reading to see how this adventure ends!

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see Arvel's daughter's mature into quick-witted adventurous girls just like their mother, Chica. The Walsh family always runs into excitement and it has been interesting to see how each member of the family reacts to adventure and grows in different parts of the trilogy. I'm sad that this exciting saga is over, but I can't wait to see what else John C. Horst has in store!

The Mule Tamer is at #2 on best sellers for Amazon ebook Westerns!

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,698 Paid in Kindle Store  #2 in  Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Fiction > Genre Fiction > Westerns #3 in  Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Westerns