Some historians burden students with a dreary list of facts and figures, and an unfortunate life-long allergy to the subject. Others, the rare and wonderful kind, make the past transcend numbers and coax students into wanting to learn more.
Richard Grabman is not a historian, at least not in the academic sense. But his book, Gods, Gachupines and Gringos: A People's history of Mexico, may inspire a slew of history-phobes to finally dip their toes into the subject. Once upon a time, Grabman was a technical writer - and it shows. His style is crisp, clean, and includes not a single paragraph-length sentence or invented word (shame on academics who unnecessarily torture the English language). Fortunately, aside from pristine grammar, there is nothing particularly technical about this book.
Extremely complex events in Mexican history are made accessible to complete beginners in the subject with clarity, grace and wit. Short, eminently readable chapters with catchy titles go a long way towards easing deeply (and not so deeply) hidden adult fears of musty, dusty tomes. Best of all, as a non-academic writer for a general audience, Grabman unhesitatingly selects the most compelling details of Mexico's long and convoluted history and uses them to turn a difficult story into a joyful, dynamic read. After all, self-professed serious readers still yearn to learn about dental care under Aztec rule, swashbuckling nuns, the Pastry War of 1838, Francisco Madero's conversations with the ghost of his dead brother, and President Jose Lopez Portillo's famous, ill-fated comment involving a dog.
Grabman has written Gods, Gachupines and Gringos with a specific goal: to explore Mexico's multi-faceted, multi-cultural past and to help foreigners become more familiar with a very ancient society. The quirky details, therefore, serve to smooth encounters with maddeningly complicated episodes of Mexican history that could otherwise alienate and befuddle uninitiated readers. In this case, the knowledge is also extremely relevant to understanding Mexico's geopolitical present. 'With Mexicans, history is destiny', explains Grabman. 'Unless we understand the history, and our own role in it, we will continue to be 'distant neighbors'.
'Yes, yes,' the goal-oriented reader may say impatiently, 'but is it an accurate history?' Absolutely . . . and to a point. Scholars will justifiably argue that no introductory history can exist without a fair amount of bias in the choice of detail, in describing causality, in subtly courting the reader's sympathies for a particular cause. Introductory histories are by necessity either mindlessly dull or at least subtly slanted, often in ways that slip by novice historians. Gods, Gachupines and Gringos is no different, and fortunately far from dull.
Grabman's interpretations may inspire some history specialists to write a scathing letter or two (particularly over the choice of where to skim and where to focus). But they may also inspire many other readers (who would otherwise never dream of picking up a history book) to venture deeper into the subject. The book's well-crafted and accessible bibliography is a great start. And those who choose to stop here can at least walk away having enjoyed an eminently readable, quirky history that explains and explores Mexico's past with sympathy and gentle humor.
Gods, Gachupines and Gringos is a great read for all those who know or remember little to nothing about Mexican history and wish they did, and for all those who may need to be prodded into knowing by well-meaning friends. It may even surprise those who thought they knew it all. --The Guadalajara Reporter / Alex Gesheva / November 22, 2008 --The Guadalajara Reporter / Alex Gesheva / November 22, 2008
I have about fifteen feet of shelf space devoted to books about Mexico and novels set (at least in part) in Mexico. I have one foot of space for favorites. I have just added Richard Grabman's new book, Gods, Gachupines and Gringos.
The first section deals with the Pre-Conquest, 'Ten thousand years (more or less) in a few paragraphs,' followed by the rise and fall of civilizations like the Olmecs and the Maya until the 'meanest sons of bitches around'¦ the people we know as the Aztecs, after years of wandering in the desert arrived in central Mexico and took over, that is until the Spanish arrived in 1519 and took over.
Here and throughout his book, Grabman points out interesting details that are not generally known. For example, 'The Mexica never called themselves Aztecs.'
The last section deals with recent political activity in Mexico, the 2006 presidential campaign with Obrador and Calderon slugging it out. Lopez Obrador as presented by Grabman is a very different candidate from the Obrador presented by the American press.
Between the Pre-Conquest and the present, there are many other surprises. At the time of the conquest, Tenochtitlan (which became Mexico City) 'was larger than any city in Europe, and may have been the largest city in the world at the time (as Mexico City is today)'. It was cleaner and better organized than anything the Europeans knew.
Even before Cortes had completed the conquest, he asked King Carlos for missionaries. The Catholic Church ended up as the largest landowner and richest single organization in Mexico. There were no banks, so the Church was also the biggest lender in the colony. Besides church buildings, schools, monasteries and convents, they owned everything from haciendas to apartment houses in Mexico City, ships, mines and factories. They even owned the largest pawnshop in the world, the Monte de Piedad (still in business, although the government took it over in the 1850s).
As we approach the successful rebellion from Spain, a new cast of characters come in, [and] we are introduced to the members of The Queretaro Literary Society who actually fomented and organized the rebellion. Allende, Aldama, [and] Hidalgo, who marched their army of 12,000 'farmers, workers and miners' to attack Guanajuato, 'the richest city in the world at the time.'
A few decades later, the United States invaded Mexico, a black mark on our history, and in that invasion 'Twenty percent of the United States Army would desert to the Mexicans.' Grabman does not gloss over the U.S. involvements in Mexico (no one could call them honorable). He believes that between Henry Lane Wilson [U.S. Ambassador to Mexico and no relation to the president] and Woodrow Wilson more violence was unleashed in Mexico than by any foreigner since Hernan Cortes.
Latin America sided with Carranza [against President Wilson], and the United States was again seen as the aggressor in Mexico.
Grabman tells us the official name of Veracruz was changed to 'Three Times Heroic Veracruz - its citizens had risen against invaders from Spain once and from the United States twice.' That U.S. military intervention was solely for Woodrow Wilson's political benefit. Bill Clinton finally offered an official apology in 1998.
Lots of amazing stuff here. Gods, Gachupines and Gringos no more resembles the typical 'history of Mexico' book than a rushing river resembles a dried-up arroyo.
I was reading the book this morning when a couple of buddies joined me. I told them about the book, and read them a few of the passages as a little sampler. When I finished I looked up. They responded in unison, 'Where can I buy a copy?' --MexConnect.com / James Tipton / June 17. 2009 --MexConnect.com / James Tipton / June 17. 2009
Richard Grabman's Gods, Gachupines and Gringos covers the history of Mexico's multiculturalism going back to the mother country Spain and the pre-conquest days of Aztec and Mayan civilizations and the early migration of ancient peoples from Siberia moving through Alaska, spreading out through the Americas, and settling in the tropical mountains of Mexico.
With the onset of Spain's conquest for Aztec treasures and their hunger for gold, they soon established a pattern of oppression and abuse. They pillaged local villages, kidnapped leaders, enslaved rebels, and destroyed local gods in their temples.
Grabman gives an excellent account of the competition of the Hapsburg and Bourbon families as they vied for power after the death of Carlos II during the reign of Spain in early 1700s. A century later during the 'Age of Santa Ana' Mexico had a parade of colorful figures: De Iturbide, Guadalupe Victoria, Poinsett, and Alexander von Humboldt.
I particularly appreciated Grabman s objective approach in his coverage of the power exercised by the Catholic Church and their influence on the spiritual, economic, political, and military events from the time of the Inquisition, the impact of the Jesuits, and during the years of Hidalgo, the reform in 1857, and right on through to contemporary issues faced in the 21st century.
Another aspect of Grabman's writing that appealed to me was the way he captured the human frailties and virtues of the personalities of the key players in Mexico's tumultuous development as a nation.
He presented a very candid look at U. S. Military involvement during the complex years of the Mexican revolution during Wilson's presidency.
Detailed events of the years 1920 through 1946 include discussion of the educational and cultural development of Mexico, the economic crash of 1929, and the hardships of the depression years. He then went on to shed light on the new frontiers of the sixties, and concluded with a look into the country's future.
Catchy chapter titles are an evidence of Richard s wit and humor. Some of my favorites include: 'Restless Knights', 'The Saints Come Marching In', 'Cops and Robbers', and 'The Fatal Glass of Beer'.
I enjoyed Grabman's subtle humor as he championed Jose Maria Morelos as the leader of the first modern guerrilla movement. Morelos continued the revolt [against the Spaniards] after Hidalgo was beheaded.
The book is thoroughly researched and well documented with an all-inclusive bibliography and a complete index.
Richard Grabman's Gods, Gachupines, and Gringos: A People's History of Mexico is highly readable, well articulated, and remarkably comprehensive. --Reader Views / Richard R. Blake / November, 2008 --Reader Views / Richard R. Blake / November, 2008
