ZAPATA [Paperback]

JOHN STEINBECK (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: NY (1980)
• ASIN: B000N6OTD0
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)

More About the Author

John Steinbeck (1902-1968), winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, achieved popular success in 1935 when he published Tortilla Flat. He went on to write more than twenty-five novels, including The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men.

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36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Zapata: Rebel vs. Legend, January 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Zapata (Mass Market Paperback)

Zapata: Unsung Hero of the Mexican Revolution Another Steinbeckian Leader of the People by Robert F. Schambier, Ed.D.

"Any previously unpublished work of John Steinbeck is a welcome gift to American letters." --Budd Schulberg, as cited in Zapata

John Steinbeck's Zapata is a little known but well-crafted narrative about one of Mexico's legendary heroes of the Mexican Revolution. The story--which the author later turned into the critically acclaimed screenplay Viva Zapata! --tells of Emiliano Zapata's courageous efforts to halt political oppression. Known affectionately in his native southern state of Morelos as "the Little Tiger," Zapata took up the cause of downtrodden peasants when reform laws were totally flouted by the Establishment. The Diaz regime had virtually turned Mexico into a police state as the peasants grew hungrier and hungrier. Nearly single-handedly Zapata succeeded in empowering his fellow countrymen. At length he was able to instigate a formidable armed rebellion.

As portrayed by Steinbeck, Emiliano Zapata was a young and promising leader. He could neither read nor write, but he possessed an intuitive sense of justice and fair play. Often misguided--even deceived by his own--and eventually betrayed, Zapata pushed relentlessly for social and agrarian reform. In the Camus tradition he was a true rebel fighting for human rights, never showing interest in acquiring power for its own sake.

Initially Zapata joined forces with Venustiano Carranza and Pancho Villa to overthrow president/dictator Porfirio Diaz. But as soon as Carranza became president, he too turned into a power-hungry elitist.

Carranza's administration under a new Constitution quickly became counterproductive. He abused his presidential powers and, in effect, confiscated yet more land under the pretense of "national ownership." When Villa and Zapata discovered that he was reneging on his promises, they continued their armed resistance against the fledgling regime. Then Zapata was assassinated in 1919. And the young leader of the people grew into legend.

To give us a better portrait of Emiliano Zapata--man versus myth--Steinbeck goes to some length in his "Introduction" to reveal the Zeitgeist or general climate. Mexico at the time was plagued by outdated and disastrous land policies. By 1910, nearly 97% of the rural heads of families owned no real property. Violence and suppression were rampant everywhere. To fully understand the underlying causes, one must review Mexican history beginning with the Spanish conquistadors. Suffice it to say that, traditionally, land had been issued as payback to those who had fought for, or shown loyalty to, the state. At length, in a feudal system gone awry, haciendas (or estates) grew larger and larger at the expense of the peasantry. In spite of years of protests lasting into the 20th century, little could be achieved by way of effective agrarian reform.

Enter such folk heroes as Zapata. Although Steinbeck's account is episodic at times--as chronicles tend to be--the author does succeed in capturing the essence of the young rebel. We see Emiliano Zapata as a husband, a family man, a lover, a faithful ally in war if not in love--even a machiavellian leader. "A man of individual conscience," Elia Kazan nevertheless labels him. Although some accounts may seem to conflict with history, together the vignettes (or film scenes) reveal a man quite capable of taking care of himself and his own. But no one is infallible.

The ending is especially poignant, characteristic of Steinbeck's dramatic finales. Metaphor and symbolism prevail as Zapata's famous horse Blanco gallops riderless back into the mountains. The horse remains a free spirit--haughty and untamable--defying all attempts at capture. Its indomitable spirit emboldens the people, further cementing their patriotic zeal. They keep encountering one setback after another. But they persist, confident that sooner or later the voice of freedom will ring out. In the meantime, Zapata lives. "Viva Zapata!"

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Viva Zapata " movie sketch, April 22, 2003

By 

Enrique Torres "Rico" (San Diegotitlan, Califas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Zapata (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the actual script Steinbeck wrote for the movie "Viva Zapata. " Actually, the book is broken up into two parts; part one is complete with John Steinbeck's observations of the Mexican Revolution, the culture and the existing system that allowed Zapata to rise and become a leader. This narrative of Steinbeck's is interspersed throughout the rough initial script.The foundation for the book is featured in part one whereas part two is the actual script. Steinbeck's personal narrative is very interesting and I found his recomendation on who to play the part of the legendary Zapata insightful and accurate in suggestion. He did not recommend Marlon Brando , who was Zapata in the classic movie, but rather wanted a Mexcian actor. He felt that none other than Pedro Armendariz should take the lead. He would have made a great Zapata. Anyway Steinbeck makes many astute observations and demonstrates his affinity for scholarship, as well as his understanding of the Mexican psyche during the turbulent times of the Porfirio Diaz regime. Steinbeck illustrates his scenes with an authentic cinematic brush reflected in his mastery of language. He details the nuances of individuals in the larger scope of an epic historical event, tying all the elements together as only a master story teller can do. Zapata, known as "El Tigre," is a man of immense stature in Mexcian history and Steinbeck understands this. Zapata comes to life, the illiterate peasant who marries a woman of a higher social status and testifies to his own human frailities.His mythical yet factual life is accentuated by stories of a currandera who "sees" his life unfolding. The relationship with his brother Eufemio also shows the respect Zapata has for family. Zapata the reluctant but sure leader feels a sense of purpose in destiny alongside other great men who shaped history. Zapata becomes bigger than life; rising to legendary status thoughout the book with anecdotal information based on research, Zapata the man and myth become one indistinguishable person. An excellent book for students to use for research, this book serves as a general guide to the life of Emiliano Zapata. For more in depth analysis for research, I would recommend the outstanding book by John Womack and the equally compelling, if not better work , by Enrique Krauze , which is available in Spanish, has well as English. If you ever wonder how do classic movies develop check out this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Social justice, revolution, heroism, leadership - Steinbeck territory, September 28, 2009

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C. B Collins Jr. (Atlanta, GA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Zapata (Mass Market Paperback)

This book contains two screenplays. One is a screenplay that John Steinbeck worked on for 20 years on the revolutionary career of Emiliano Zapata. The other screenplay is a more styled and streamlined screenplay written in 2 months for the film Viva Zapata. They are fascinating to read for one offers a great deal of background information on Mexican history and social customs whereas the other is a more simplified and dramatic interpretation. They both are powerful. The book is further enriched by an informative essay by Robert Morsberger on the fascination Steinbeck had for Zapata as well as an essay on the screenwriting career and products of Steinbeck.
The character and history of Emiliano Zapata was of such great interest to Steinbeck that he worked on the first screenplay for 20 years, made multiple trips to Mexico to interview as many people as possible who may have known Zapata or knew information handed down through the Mexican oral tradition. Emiliano Zapata is a legendary hero of the Mexican Revolution. He fought against oppression and believed in a political philosophy of democratic self determination of the common people. Steinbeck found that Zapata was often called the Little Tiger in his home state of Morelos in Southern Mexico. Zapata rose to action during the dictatorship of President Diaz during a period of time when large portions of indigenous peasant land was sold by the state to the wealthy aristocratic landowners. This is a very feudal system of land distribution, for those forces loyal to the central governing authority are rewarded with large gifts of land, regardless of the centuries of inhabitants on the land of common indigenous peasant stock. If the peasants went to work for these land owners, they soon were caught in debt slavery and could never work off the dept and thus leave the land. If they resisted, they were often killed. Mexico had become a police state with the use of the military to suppress the peasant population. Steinbeck does an excellent job of briefly explaining to the readers the history of Mexico and the economic and political conditions that brought about considerable oppression to the indigenous peasant people. Zapata led the revolution against this oppression. The peasants and indigenous peoples began to support him and assist him in the rebellion. He acted for the good of the people rather than to gain power for himself. In this regard he is almost unique in history. He could not read or write but he did have a strong sense of justice and injustice.
The Mexican revolution has many characters and twists and turns of plot and allegiance. Steinbeck helps us navigate that history with the short essays he wrote between scenes of the screenplay. Zapata joined with Venustiano Carranza and Pancho Villa in a rebellion of national scope to overthrow President Porfirio Diaz. Diaz eventually leaves the country. Unfortunately, Carranza became corrupt upon taking over the central government, requiring Villa and Zapata to continue armed rebellion to over throw yet another corrupt leader. Zapata is eventually assassinated in 1919. He quickly became a legend.
Steinbeck offers a fully realized heroic character in Zapata for we see him as rebel and also as young love struck husband. We see him as wise leader and strategist but we also see him as highly loyal to a brother who is morally weak and self indulgent while also being brave with a tendency toward violence. There is much here that rings of myth for Zapata was illiterate and taught to read by his wife. He is at first rejected by the father of his chosen wife He eventually marries this woman of higher social status who stands by him through many years of struggle.
Even though both screenplays are about Zapata, they are also about Steinbeck and his strong commitment to social justice and human rights. Steinbeck is a literary giant, for like Sinclair Lewis, he was able to bend his art to social justice without losing the art.