The Mexican Revolution, 1910-1940

by Michael J. Gonzales

Book Overview

This judicious history of modern Mexico's revolutionary era will help all readers, and in particular students, understand the first great social uprising of the twentieth century. In 1911, land-hungry peasants united with discontented political elites to overthrow General Porfirio D az, who had ruled Mexico for three decades. Gonzales offers a path breaking overview of the revolution from its origins in the D az dictatorship through the presidency...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 082632780X
• ISBN13: 9780826327802
• Release Date: February 2002
• Publisher: University of New Mexico Press
• Length: 319 Pages
• Weight: 1.16 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.4" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

A Tale of Revolutionary Times in Mexico

Gonzales knows his material and covers it well in this history of the Mexican revolution. He begins with the rise and fall of Porfirio Diaz and then on to the main events of the Mexican revolution and its chief actors: Madero, Zapata, and, of course, Pancho Villa. He then describes the first twenty years of the establishment of the modern Mexican state and its leaders: Calles, Cardenas and others. The author brings in a lot of the economics that stood behind the politics of the revolution: the disparity of income between rich and poor, the domination of foreign capital, and the role of the Catholic church. There are ample photographs, maps, and charts to illustrate the story. This should be a fabulous book about a fascinating cast of characters in one of the bloodiest and most colorful of 20th century events. However, it doesn't quite measure up. It's a bit hard to put your finger on why it's good rather than outstanding -- but I think it is because the author doesn't distinguish clearly enough between what is merely important and what is transcendental. For example, in chapter one I never quite figured how and when the Mexican revolution began. The author says, quite plausibly, that it was a botched election in 1910 but there's no countdown to the revolution, no crucial moment described in which it began, no small dramatic detail that would bring the moment to life. The story needs a bit more showmanship that Gonzales brings to it. For the general reader, the book is too much of a survey that might go along with a college course. Criticisms apart, this is a perfectly good and interesting book about the revolution and one that is informative and seems solid in its scholarship. Smallchief

Not a Bad Read at All

I recently found myself in the situation of having to give myself a crash course in the Mexican Revolution for a presentation. I rushed to the library and scanned the shelves for a fairly detailed analysis of the Revolution that wouldn't be a dense read. This fit the bill and basically saved my hide. Gonzales really has a fine prose style. The read isn't dense, but at the same time it is detailed and accurate. You get a really thorough overview without just being bogged down. And of course, the Revolution itself adds enough narrative power to keep up the interest for the somewhat casual reader such as myself. The only problem I had with the work, as compared with others I consulted is that Zapata seems too distant and unimportant in this account. This isn't a biography, though. This is a survey of the Revolution's basic happening and a fairly brief analysis of their couases and effect. And as such a survey, the work succeeds. I would definitely recommend this for the casual history reader or for the student needing an introduction to a fascinating and important period.

A recommended, basic library pick

This history of Mexico's revolutionary era is a recommended, basic library pick for any high school or college-level library with resources on Mexican history and culture. Gonzales considers not only the events but the foundations of the revolution where were laid back in 1911 when the Diaz dictatorship prompted resentment and restlessness. His interpretation is meant to embrace different experiences and interests and provides a well-rounded and clear portrait of Mexican revolutionary events.