Villa and Zapata, my review
Villa and Zapata: A History of the Mexican Revolution by Frank McLynnMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
For a guy who has spent the vast majority of his life in what used to be Mexico and has had many Mexican-American friends, I am woefully ignorant of Mexican history. Taking steps to remedy that, I pick up this book.
The Mexican Revolution was a terrifying ten-year period of upheaval and shifting alliances, with constant backstabbing and betrayals. Originally a revolt against the autocratic rule of Porfirio Díaz, the revolution continued as dissatisfaction with the subsequent presidents grew.
By far the best know participants in the revolution were Francisco "Pancho" Villa and Emiliano Zapata. Both legends, the two men could be more different. Villa was the "Centaur of the North," a nearly-illiterate peasant who, prior to becoming a revolutionary, had been a butcher, run mule trains, and operated as a bandit. Possessing incredible personal charisma and a cunning, strategic mind, he fought for land reform in the North. Zapata, operating mainly in the Southern state of Morelos, was an anarchist who demanded the end of the hacienda system. He also led by personal charisma.
Two fascinating men and the tale of the revolution is a bloody one, a war to the knife with very little mercy shown on any side. But what makes this such an interesting read is how two men of very little education or training, could come to lead well-organized armies over a period of years with little more than personal magnetism going for them. Their rise, zenith, and eventual falls are meticulously documented.
So were Villa and Zapata heroes? Were they great leaders or bandits writ large? Neither man was without faults, and both made horrendously costly errors. But they were both powers in the Mexican Revolution and I'm happy to have learned about them.
Note that this is a dense book. The author uses many obscure words and frequently references people or ideas that assume a good knowledge of political history. I had to stop and look things up a few times to understand what was being said. Also, this is a book in dire need of some maps. Not having the geography of Mexico memorized, having maps showing the situation at various times would have been very useful in keeping the picture straight in my head.
Really good book, very happy I picked it up.
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