Mexico’s history books
Here are short reviews of 14 excellent general histories of Mexico.
The first group consists of “shorter” general histories, ranging in length from 179 to 398 pages
The next two reviews are of in-depth histories of approximately 700 pages each
Four standard texts that fall between the two groups above our reviewed next
Finally we review a recent history published in February of this year
Shorter general histories
At 179 pages “Mexico in World History” by William H Beezley published in 2011 by Oxford University press is a relatively speedy read that benefits from larger type and a conversational tone, with a three-page chronology, detailed notes and an excellent list of websites, Kindle $17.99.
It contains the interesting anecdotes, cultural richness, and popular focus characteristic of Beezley's previous works presented in the same clear, approachable style...Mexico in World History is an excellent contribution to Mexican history, a shining example of the historiographical evolution of world history, and a useful reference for instructors."--Teaching History
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The Cambridge University Press contribution to shorter general histories is Brian Hamnett’s third edition (2019) of “A Concise History of Mexico” weighing in at 558 pages with a six-page chronology, a twenty-one page index, and a seven page bibliography, plus some photographs and maps. Kindle $14.60.
'Hamnett's remains, by far, the best one-volume history of Mexico in English. Erudite, elegant, and free of commonplaces and stereotypes, it is structured around a non-conventional periodization, masterfully weaving politics, economics, and foreign relations, while also revealing a keen understanding of culture, religion, and regional experiences.' Pablo Mijangos, Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas (CIDE, Mexico)
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”A Traveller’s History of Mexico”by Kenneth Pearce was published in 2003 (2nd edititon, 398pp) and has not been updated and is available only in paper back at from $3.74 used to 22.29 new, but is worthy because of its back end list of presidents, chronology, 22 maps/charts, and an historical gazetteer of each Mexican state. (and I like to hold a real book that is easy to skip around)
A Traveller's History of Mexico offers a complete and expert history of the country from the earliest times right through to the present. It will be welcomed by all those who visit Mexico to see its stunning Aztec and other pre-conquest remains as well as by students studying the Spanish conquest and its effects. Amazon.
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Lynn V Foster’s fourth edition of a brief history of Mexico is full of illustrations, photos, charts and a light style that makes this a highly readable 324 pages, even though this was published in 2009, with a seven-page chronology that is the backbone of my research. Hardcover goes for $5-15, no kindle.
From the rise of the first civilizations of North America to the intensely contested presidential election of 2006, Mexico has had a vibrant and dynamic history. This title discusses developments in Mexico, helping readers to understand the deeper significance of the events. Amazon.
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Two Mexican Histories for Deep Drilling
“Fire & Blood A History of Mexico” is my #1 choice for those of you who want to get the facts and the feel of Mexico’s development (destruction?) from the first settlers from Asia to recent times. This magnificent piece of writing by T. R. Fehrenbach was first published in 1973, updated in 1995 by Da Capo Press and now republished in 2014 by Open Road Media. Kindle $9.99, but if you want to hold a real book at 704 pages so you can skip around, buy the hardcover at $20-25 or the paper back from $7-23.
Fire & Blood brilliantly depicts the succession of tribes and societies that have variously called Mexico their home, their battleground, and their legacy. This is the tale of the indigenous people who forged from this rugged terrain a wide-ranging civilization; of the Olmec, Maya, Toltec, and Aztec dynasties, which exercised their sophisticated powers through bureaucracy and religion; of the Spanish conquistadors, whose arrival heralded death, disease, and a new vision of continental domination. Author T. R. Fehrenbach connects these threads with the story of modern-day, independent Mexico, a proud nation struggling to balance its traditions against opportunities that often seem tantalizingly out of reach. (Amazon)
From the Mesoamerican empires to the Spanish Conquest and the Mexican Revolution, peopled by the legendary personalities of Mexican history—Montezuma, Cortés, Santa Anna, Juárez, Maximilian, Díaz, Pancho Villa, and Zapata—Fire & Blood is a “deftly organized and well-researched” work of popular history (Library Journal).
Mexican history comes to life in this “fascinating” work by the author of Lone Star: A History of Texas and the Texans (The Christian Science Monitor).
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“The Oxford History of Mexico” is a 700 page anthology that covers Mexican history from the viewpoint of nearly two dozen experts, each with his or her special expertise. The five sections cover “the Great Encounter”, “Crown, Cross, Lance in New Spain”, Collapse, Regeneration, and Challenge” (1810-1910), “The Mexican Revolution” and Mexico in the PostWorld War II era. Kindle $16.08 is a great buy, but the hardcover weighing in at nearly two pounds, is a reader’s delight ($4-37).
In The Oxford History of Mexico, 21 scholars unravel Mexico's long history of Indian extermination, slavery, colonialism, and U.S. expansion with new information outlining environmental, gender, and pop culture studies, particularly comic books and telenova soap operas. They also detail the cultural growth and development of this nation. Of course, the great historical figures are also given close attention: Montezuma, the great Aztec leader; Hernán Cortés, the conquistador who brought down the Aztec empire; Malinche, Cortés' Indian mistress and interpreter; and Pancho Villa, who led the 1910 Mexican Revolution. Artistically, Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, David Siqueiros, and José Orozco are cited, as are writers such as Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, Octavio Paz, and Carlos Fuentes. This is a comprehensive guide to a rich and varied country. --Eugene Holley Jr.
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More Mexican general histories from relevant viewpoints
“The Essential History of Mexico”, Philip L Russell, 2016, 459pp (Routledge)
“Mexico from Moctezuma to the fall of the PRI”, Jaime Suchlicki, 2001, 225pp, (Brassey’s)
“Mexico: a Brief History”, Alicia Hernandez Chavez transated by Andy Klatt, 2006, 388pp. (U. Cal. Press)
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Hot Off the Press!!!
“Mexico: A Concise Illustrated History” by John W Sherman was published February 6, 2020 by Rowman & Littlefield. This relatively slim tome (270 pages) is not cheap with Kindle at $30, hardbound at $99 (!!), softcover at $32. The five sections cover ancient civilizations, colonial centuries, independents and modernity, the age of rebellion, and structures of power. The writing is easy to read, almost conversational, but the illustrations were a disappointment (at least in the Kindle edition I downloaded), but I may have set too high a bar thinking I would receive a magnificent coffee table book with history, not the other way round. Try Fire & Blood a$9.99 Kindle for deep drilling but no photos.
Students will appreciate this thoughtful, readable, streamlined text. The carefully chosen images will also stimulate class discussions. Sherman's treatment of Mexico's twentieth-century history is particularly innovative and thought-provoking. -- Peter V. N. Henderson, Winona State University
Sherman has composed an exceptional text that explores primarily the economic and political history of Mexico in an accessible way. For teachers who focus on the social and cultural aspects of Mexico, Sherman’s work helps fill the gaps in our lectures and teaching emphases. I have struggled in the past explaining the finer concepts of Mexican economic history in the classroom, and this book will be of great benefit to my students and to me as a scholar. Plus, the images throughout the book capture the beauty and essence of Mexico in a novel way. -- Michele McArdle Stephens, West Virginia University
Sherman’s fast-paced romp through more than five hundred years of Mexican history is full of insightful, sometimes unexpected twists and turns. Written in a lively prose, this richly illustrated volume will appeal to students, travelers, and specialists looking for a concise approach to a captivating country. -- Stephen E. Lewis, California State University, Chico
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And now for a detailed look at Mexico’s presidents and the outstanding books about them check out the next article, if you please.