A La Sombra De La Revolución Mexicana

by Héctor Aguilar Camín, Lorenzo Meyer, Luis Alberto Fierro (Translation)

Héctor Aguilar Camín and Lorenzo Meyer, two of Mexico's leading intellectuals, set out to fill a void in the literature on Mexican history: the lack of a single text to cover the history of contemporary Mexico during the twentieth century. A la sombra de la Revolución Mexicana, now available in English as In the Shadow of the Mexican Revolution, covers the Mexican Revolution itself, the gradual consolidation of institutions, the Cárdenas regime, the "Mexican economic miracle" and its subsequent collapse, and the recent transition toward a new historical period.

The authors offer a comprehensive and authoritative study of Mexico's turbulent recent history, a history that increasingly intertwines with that of the United States. Given the level of interest in Mexico—likely to increase still more as a result of the recent liberalization of trade policies—this volume will be useful in affording U.S. readers an intelligent, comprehensive, and accessible study of their neighbor to the south.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Latin American History

155 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Periodista, novelista e historiador mexicano.

Ha destacado en sus tres vertientes de periodista, escritor e historiador. En la primera, recibió el Premio Nacional de Periodismo Cultural; ha sido colaborador de diversos medios, como La Jornada (diario del que fue subdirector), Milenio, Unomasuno, La Cultura en México. Fue director de la revista Nexos entre 1983 y 1995, cargo que retomó a fines de 2008. Condujo el programa televisivo Zona Abierta y participa en Tercer Grado, ambos transmitidos por Televisa. Es fundador de Ediciones Cal y Arena (1988), la cual dirigió.
Aguilar Camín publicó su primer libro de ficción en 1983: la recopilación de cuentos La decadencia del dragón y dos años después, después de mantener en secreto otros borradores, sale su primera novela: Morir en el golfo, que sería llevada al cine con el mismo nombre en 1990 por Alejandro Pelayo.

Reviews

[Monty Milne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is quite detailed and filled in many gaps in my knowledge. It seemed to me to be fairly even handed, although sometimes a little too dry and dispassionate for my prejudices. The Cristero War of the 1930’s seems to me to have been an extraordinary event. How cruel and insane to outlaw Catholicism and think that murdering its practitioners would be a good idea for the health of the state. If anything, the authors are rather too dispassionate here: there is no mention, for example, of the gruesome sight that greeted railway travellers when they were confronted with mile after mile of crucified Catholics hanging from telegraph poles.

Overall this book left me feeling rather sad and depressed at the prevalence of misery and oppression in Mexico which has a dreadful continuity from pre Columbian times up to today. The absurd tautology of an Institutional Revolutionary Party is explained and contextualised, but nothing in this story gives any cause for cheer – except, perhaps, the seemingly endless capacity for suffering and the extraordinary stoicism of the Mexican poor. On the basis of this book, all their rulers throughout the twentieth century ranged from the bad to the appallingly bad, and they were without exception complicit in grand larceny on a nationwide scale. The rulers of the United States don’t come out of this smelling of roses either, but one at least gains a better understanding of the inevitability of conflict between the two polities, given the kind of government Mexicans had to endure for the whole of the twentieth century. Let’s hope things are changing, but I won’t be holding my breath.

[Khalil Barahaoua · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for my Contemporary Historical Problems of México and the Yucatán course and it was a great way for me to catch up on all the history I feel like I was missing concerning the pre and post-revolutionary México. It was a detailed but spanned many different aspects of the time period including economy, politics, social conditions, foreign intervention, and of course battles. I found it easy to read considering it was in pretty academic Spanish. Shout out to my book-dealer Armando for securing the copy for me

[DianaGuinto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Académicamente muy bueno. Información muy precisa de una buena parte de la historia contemporánea de Mexico

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am researching the 1900-1940 period for work, which is why I didn't finish reading the book. Knowing too much more wouldn't help my project (in fact, might even hinder it), so I had to stop despite curiosity about how the authors see the Revolution's influence unfolding in the second half of the 20th century. There's a recursive, almost spiral quality to the way the authors tell this history, which may be an obstacle for some readers.

[Diana Cervantes · Rating 3 out of 5]

School stuff.
Really interesting, and really useful if you want to know more about Mexico's revolutionary history. A lot of facts and information.
Kinda repetitive, that's why the 3 stars. And the fact that it doesn't develope cronologically sometimes makes it kinda tedious. But still, really useful.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Se me había olvidado agregar este libro, es un poco cansado pero explica muy bien el suceso de la revolución. Me gusta porque al mismo tiempo de explicar los hechos hace una crítica, y no nos vende la típica historia que nos enseñan en la educación básica, sobre nuestors "grandes héroes"

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book only covers the period of 1910 to 1990, it is a comprehensive history of Mexico, warts and all. The writing is sharp and scholarly. I recommend this to any who want a detailed history of 20th century Mexico.

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe it's because it's translated, but this one frequently bogs down.

[Manuel · Rating 2 out of 5]

aburrido.

[Walter Panzar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good details, hard to read

[Adriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

muy bueno!!