La Capital: The Biography of Mexico City [Paperback]

Jonathan Kandell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1990

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.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Kandell's panoramic, compelling chronicle of Mexico City is in large measure a history of Mexico itself. The Spanish colonizers dreamt they would impose two separate "republics"Spanish and Indianbut from the ashes of Herman Cortes's conquest rose a volatile, multiracial society. After creoles threw off Spanish rule in 1821 and won Mexico's independence, a new elite of military officials and entrepreneurs arose. Corruption, favoritism and betrayal of the common people by their leaders has been the norm ever since, according to Kandell, who was raised in Mexico City, was a New York Times correspondent there and is the author of Passage Through El Dorado. He carries the story right up to the recent succession of disgraced presidents and the new bureaucracy's co-option of artists and intellectuals. This rich, 704-page portrait limns near-psychotic Montezuma, venal Santa Anna, self-mythologizing Diego Rivera and many others against a backdrop of political turmoil and violence. Photos. History Book Club alternate.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Kandell, former Latin American correspondent for the New York Times and a native of Mexico City, has written a magnificent 700-year history of the first big city of the new world, today its largest. The author read widely in memoirs, novels, government documents, and the standard works. No topics are ignored, and the treatment is fair, not an easy accomplishment given the relation of the races and of Mexico and the United States, both of which receive considerable attention. Through a kaleidoscope of sensual and idiosyncratic impressions of Mexico City, Kandell shows us humanity. A universal work. History Book Club alternate. Ren e P erez-L opez, Virginia Wesleyan Coll. Lib., Norfolk
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 640 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Co (May 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805012672
• ISBN-13: 978-0805012675
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,115,152 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #25 in Books > Travel > Latin America > Mexico > Mexico City

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gem, fact filled history, written beautifully, February 3, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Mexico City, Mexico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: LA Capital: The Biography of Mexico City (Hardcover)

As a resident of Mexico City, who has studied its history, La Capital by Jonathan Kandell is the finest example of what a history book can be. It reads like a page-turner mystery and the publisher should hang their head in shame that the book has not been reprinted. I'll run out today and buy whatever copies are left in Mexico, to give as gifts in the future.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars La Capital - A Great Read, July 12, 2001

By 

Charles Cutting (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: LA Capital: The Biography of Mexico City (Hardcover)

Anyone at all interested in Mexico should read this book. This book is written in a style ala James Mitchner. It deals with a huge period of time, starting before the time of the Aztecs and moves through to modern times. The author keeps it exciting and accurate. He covers the highlights of Mexico City and because of it's governmental centralization, the Country of Mexico itself, without becoming overly bogged down in detail. If you are a fan of historical novels, this is a book you won't be able to put down.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well-written history of the world's largest city, March 29, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: La Capital: The Biography of Mexico City (Paperback)

If you don't like to read history, or you find it boring, this book might spark your interest! Spanning thousands of years but with a great deal of interesting personal detail, La Capital reads like a thriller. An essential guide to anyone who wants to understand what Mexico City is all about and how Mexican culture has evolved to its present state.