La Capital: The Biography of Mexico City

by Jonathan Kandell

From the ancient geological rumblings that formed the city's unique setting to the recent tremors that devastated the city in 1985, the capital's complex story unfolds. The countless individuals, both famous and unknown, who shaped Mexico' history come alive . . . they prosper, decline, and rise again before being extinguished by political and social upheavals beyond their control.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Historical

640 pages, Paperback

First published November 5, 1988

Reviews

[Brandon Larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book fundamentally changed how I see Mexico and Mexicans - it's one of the best history books I've ever read. La Capital lays out the epic saga of Mexico City that stretches across a millennia from the pre-Aztec civilizations vying for control of the valley to the modern megalopolis that dominates the country's landscape. Throughout, we learn just how unlikely that history actually is, from the underdog story of the Aztecs to the totally insane gambits of Cortes to the bizarre reign of Maximilian and the endless civil wars. I wish Kandall would write a biography of every city - his pitch-perfect combination of historical detail and vibrant narration made this book fly by.

[Michelle Cuéllar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me tomó demasiadisimo leerlo pero valió la pena. Sentí que viajé entre la historia de mi país, en todos su mátices: sociales, políticos, culturales entre otros. Lo que más destaco es que tiene un discurso muy anticolonialista, mencionando las consecuencias e injusticias que vivieron las comunidades originarias.

[Joan Welsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Combined with a trip to Mexico City, La Capital was the most enthralling book I've read in years. Unfortunately, it has not been reprinted but I found it in my city library. Our sister country to the south is introduced to us by a noted author and journalist who grew up in its suburbs. The book reads like a mystery presenting a most frightening and exciting record of human endeavor.

Did you know: Just over our border to the south, the Indian state fed a million of people with their own method of watering the plants with island plots built into the three shallow lakes that originally covered what we now call a valley. They had methods to protect their water supply; their infrastructure worked. Two aqueducts provided fresh water, to neighborhoods and to the homes of the ruling class. Boy, what a 1% they had. Methods for keeping the commoners and other tribal factions controlled are diabolical and effective. Even the blood and gore was carried out on an extravagant scale.

The next part of the book describes the Mexican capitol when it was the richest city in the world, its lakes drained by the Spaniards. It was a time When 7 sailing ships left Acupulco for Manila every year to bring back the high end products of the East. Many more trading vessels left Veracruz for Europe for proper clothes, jewelry, etc. for the 1%. Again the 1%, now Spanish, lived large and the rest worked and died.

Finally our author describes the incredibly complicated Revolutionary impetus that brought Mexico City into the twentieth century. I had to read this part in small doses as the book describes the assassinations, constant double cross and vengeance that ensued.

The notes and sources give credibility to an almost unbelievable rendition. Take a look at the bibliography from pages 577 to 595 sourcing Incredibly complicated story lines not just hinted at but carefully explained.

[Ricardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un orgullo que esta majestuosa ciudad pueda despertar el profundo interés de un extranjero para poder presentarnos una completísima biografía de la misma. Un lamento que sea un extranjero el que se haya avocado a escribir este magnífico trabajo. Desde los orígenes lacustres, la llegada de los aztecas, su imperio, hasta curiosas e interesantes anécdotas de sus habitantes en la colonia, reforma, revolución (no olviden subrayar el pasaje de los zapatistas balaceando un carro de bomberos en el zócalo). Un excelente regalo para cualquiera que ame a esta ciudad, a pesar de sus pesares.

[Joseph Hood · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best history books I’ve ever read, and a must-read for anyone going to Mexico City or wanting to generally know more about the history of Mexico. Incredibly well-written and engaging. A shame that it’s out of print.

[Derrick Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard Read. BUT, the history of Mexico City is amazing. For example, did you know the Aztecs practiced cannibalism as their primary protein supply, or that they sacrificed humans by the thousands. Or how about that Mexican silver coins were once so prevalent that they become a standard currency throughout the world, even in China.

I picked this up after spending a week in Mexico City and finally got around to reading it.

[Gerardo Martinez-Casas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in the tradition of Hawaii by J.Mitchener, J.Kandell makes a profound and accurate depiction of one of the biggest and most intriguing places in the world, Mexico City. I do hope he picks up where he ended it and takes us to ignore Covid-19 in 2020...
Great read. Interesting, educative, fascinating account...

[Lauren Hiebner · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of the Valley of Mexico or Mexico City is the story of Mexico. In this biography of Mexico City Kandell gives a rich, anecdotal account of the settling of the Valley of Mexico and the foundation of Mexico City by the Olmecs. The key to growth of the city was irrigation. Next the Toltecs invaded from the north and finally the Aztecs take over in the 1500s. They consolidated power and set up a centralized government. By 1450 there were over 70,000 people living there where class distinctions emerged; nobles, warriors, laborers, and farmers. By the early 1500’s there were over 400,000 people living there. Many rebellions by neighboring peoples were put down when the Spaniards arrived. They brought not only new technology of warfare but germs which killed more people than guns. This made it easier for the Spaniards to conquer and build a European style city on the ruins of the Aztecs. Mexico City was built on top of the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan using destroyed pyramids as building blocks. Indians were enslaved to do work and African slaves were imported as well. The mining of silver brought many immigrants from Europe. The drainage of the lake, and deforestation was the beginning of environmental problems for the city. With textile factories emerging so did a wealthy class that acquired large plots of land. They were able to dominate the markets and survive both floods and droughts. With seasonal unemployment many people lived in poverty which eventually led to rebellions in the rural regions. Numerous conflicts ensued: rural vs. urban, church vs. state, rich vs. poor, liberal vs. conservative. All of these factors were involved in a brutal civil war. With strong military leaders emerging the war ended but living conditions remained bad for many people. One result was the increase in corruption in numerous areas of business, government, and the church. Criminal activity increased as gangs emerged. Kandell also describes the development of slums and corruption in the garbage and police areas. Cultural activities grew in the 1930s through the 1970s. Kandell has the ability to delve into short biographies of people who contributed to the story of Mexico City whether they be leaders, rebels, or cultural icons like Diego Rivera. Kandell explains the “Golden Era” of Mexico City (1940s - 1970s), and explains how political parties became powerful and lasting to this day, such as PRI. The last part of the book tells about riots and earthquakes that occurred in the 1960s and 1980s respectively. Interestingly, the occupation of Mexico City and what happened there after the Mexican - American War is glossed over. This is a well researched and well written book not only about Mexico City but Mexico in general. One of the best books I have read on Mexico.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great book if flawed/dated a bit. An update on the last nearly 40 years of the city would be welcome and I'd read anything written on it.

According to the author, Fernand Braudel advised him on historical methodology which is sick because Braudel is the goated historian, but the book lacks the Braudelian methods I've come to love. A bit too much focus on individuals (esp in the latter half of the book (diego rivera and irma serrano come to mind)).

The book does a good job bouncing between the political history of CDMX (and by extension the rest of flexico) and the more mundane municipal goings-on of the city, going all the way back to the ancient inhabitants of the valley of sexico.

This book was published in 1990 (and i wager completed around 1988 because it makes no mention of the near fall of PRI to cuauhtemoc cardenas) and doesn't really imagine a mexico without PRI. I'd like to read more stuff about the downfall of the party and its relegation to a afterthought in the present-day political arena of mexico.

This book does make me pretty optimistic, though. By the end of the book, the author can seemingly not imagine a CDMX clear of smog, and thinks that the population will keep on ballooning and overcrowding to oblivion. As it happens, the smog is pretty much gone (didn't see any when I visited a few years ago, made sure to check the air quality), and the population of greater CDMX has stabilized at about 20 million, which was the population at the time of publication. I'm sure the city has oodles of problems (cost of living gets the most attention in the press), but it is far from the hellhole kandell describes at the end of this book. Maybe we have the downfall of PRI to thank for that.

Also, about PRI, this book recontextualized the mexican revolution for me. While I was always fascinated by it as a historical event, my impression (as is many others) was that it wasn't all that revolutionary. Boy, was I wrong. The revolution was utterly transformative for all of Mexican society. Sure, the elite stayed elite, but they had a greater obligation to the poor and landless. Also, the Mexico we know now is continuous with the Mexico since 1920. The Mexico before that was always going through changes and could hardly be considered a consistent country or system. For all the flaws Mexico has, it has an extant and respected political system. That is not nothing.

Good book

[Sofía Escalera Eguíluz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un muy buen libro para aprender sobre la historia de la Ciudad de México. Como está narrado de forma cronológica, es sencillo de seguir. Está plagado de anécdotas y personajes históricos desmitificados. Ya que la edición que leí es de 1988, falta mucha información actualizada, sin embargo sí creo que me ayudó a conocer más acerca de la historia de la Ciudad de México y por ende también del país. Sí lo recomendaría. Fue un libro largo, pero apasionante de leer.

[Timothy Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend if you are traveling to Mexico City.

[Chase · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to read before and during a trip to Mexico City. I learned a lot.

[Tim Heneghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

[Grettel Perez · Rating 4 out of 5]

El autor proporciona datos muy interesantes sobre la formación de México, sin embargo en algunas ocasiones pierde objetividad cuando toca las fibras históricas que se comparten en nuestras escuelas mexicanas, datos verificados en los anales de nuestros monumentos y zonas arqueológicas.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far this has been facinating. I'm wishing I'd started it a little earlier so I could be a more knowledgeable guide for all the guests we've had.

Nov. '08
Finished this last month, on our flight to India actually. I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was well written, so that it held my interest, just detailed enough for a survey. I thought the first few chapters the most interesting, though the revolution piece was also facinating. I found the author a bit sentimental when writing about events that occured in his own lifetime. And it could stand a more recently written epiloge, since I think things have changed for the better in Mexico City since it was written.

Overall, a great intro to Mexican History.

[Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a hefty tome, but worth reading if you're at all interested in Mexico and its history. A fast tour of the city from prehistory to about 1980, and along the way you'll meet brilliant and bloodthirsty Aztecs, hideous conquistadors, revolutionaries, literary bright lights, mistresses of presidents and a lot more. I'll never think of painter Diego Rivera quite the same way again after reading his (surely invented)accounts of cannibalism and its salutory effect on his art!)

For a look at current day Mexico City, there's First Stop in the New World: Mexico City, the Capital of the 21st Century Also terrific.

[graycloud rios · Rating 5 out of 5]

i found this book fascinating. the history of mexico city is a long and splendid one and it is great to see it finally come together in a single volume. the detail from pre-columbian times is a pleasure to read.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seemed solid to me, but I'll say that a lot of the book seems to be history of the country as a whole, which was fine by me since I didn't know it too well, but might be tedious for someone better versed.

[Arielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid historical review/overview so far. WIsh there were about a hundred more photos/illustration/visual reference to go along with the handful in the middle.

[Esteban Martos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vale mucho la pena,.la historia de la Ciudad de México desde su formación geológica hasta los tiempos modernos

[Edmund Oshea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent history of Mexico.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

So glad to know more about CDMX, and the country as a whole!