Heroic Mexico: The Narrative History of a Twentieth Century Revolution,

by William Weber Johnson

Book Overview

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• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385015518
• ISBN13: 9780385015516
• Release Date: January 1968
• Publisher: Doubleday Books
• Length: 463 Pages
• Weight: 1.80 lbs.

Customer Reviews

My favorite primer on the Mexican Revolution

I'd picked this book up used out of idle curiosity, and was surprised at how interesting a read it made. Previously, my knowledge of the Mexican Revolution was, well... typical of most Americans: Zilch. I'd heard of Pancho Villa (mostly in conjunction with acts of banditry), the Punitive Expedition, and little else. Wow! The author knows how to weave a smoothly-flowing, 'Just the facts, Ma'am' narrative. I still have no idea where the author's sympathies lie, which is good. The book starts with a thumbnail sketch of history & events that set up the conditions of the revolution to come. Pofirio Diaz's long, benevolent -- if you were foreign or wealthy -- dictatorship. Once events begin, Diaz disappears from the scene quickly. After that, it's an avalanche... Madero, idealistic and a bit inept, is voted into the presidency, only to be betrayed by General Huerta, darling of the counter-revolutionaries. The various revolutionary factions -- the Villistas, Zapatistas, Carrancistas -- depose Huerta and fight amongst themselves, reposition, and fight again. All end up holding the capital at one point or another. America, uncomfortable with the chaos to the south, wants to recognize Pancho Villa's faction, which inopportunely loses too many battles at the wrong moment. Carranza is recognized, which offends the Villistas. Carranza later falls... and, well, you get the picture. In the background, World War I ignites Europe. Germany, expecting the United States to join the war against them, makes secret overtures to Mexico. These contacts are frustrated by the shifting balance of power in Mexico and superb British signals intelligence, which passes the communications to the US government (ever hear of the famous Zimmerman Telegram?). The Revolution ebbs & flows for several decades, and Johnson expertly draws the main characters, organizations & events. You'll gain a greater understanding of the Punitive Expedition, which nearly brought Mexico and the United States to war in 1916, and possibly precluding America joining the Allies. The author doesn't flinch from the countless atrocities that took place, leaving the reader a bit stunned at the brutality of the Revolution. Literally every major figure -- and countless minor players -- saw a violent death. Johnson explains why one of the strongest Catholic bastions in the world has a government often violently opposed to Catholicism. Americans will be surprised to learn that Pancho Villa -- more than just a bandit -- was a general in the Revolution, expertly leading thousands of men. General Obregon would have compared favorably to many of the American general officers of the time, and given America no shortage of grief if events had led to war. American and European military hardware poured into the country, horrible weapons that would foreshadow the carnage to follow in the first World War. By the time the Revolution sputtered to a finish in the 20s and 30s, many of the driving issues saw s

The best book on the Mexican Revolution

I am a professional editor rewriting a manuscript dealing with the Mexican Revolution's impact on northern Chihuahua. In the course of my work I have had to study several historical works dealing with Pancho Villa, Victoriano Carranza, Madero, Huerta, etc. This is far and away the best of the bunch: more factual and comprehensive, less politically opinionated--AND the easiest to read.

The Mexican Revolution, in one fell swoop

For a long time I was curious about the Mexican Revolution, and one day in the Purple Room at Powell's Books I picked up "Heroic Mexico". It was long - 425 pages - complex, and loaded with major & minor historical figures. I am now re-reading it, and I think this book's a classic. It's comprehensive, beginning with the Presidency of Diaz in 1910 and with much background from a century and more before that. Weber covers all the important events thoroughly, includes all the important figures, along with a host of colorful ones who are less significant but give you a real feel for the times. There's an episode in chapter 21 involving Pancho Villa's generals and Carranza, one of the great political leaders of the Revolution, that's worth the price of the book all by itself. Interesting, insightful and funny historical writing at its very best.

Superb review. Captivating portrayal of the participants.

This book is completely engrossing. It reads like good fiction (but is entirely factual), with a well organized "story" line and and excellent portrayals of the of the main individuals involved in this inherently confusing struggle. I have read the book twice, not because it is obtuse (it is relatively easy to follow), but because it is so enjoyable to read. I think that this is a must for anyone with an interest in Mexican history