Pancho Villa: A Narrative Biography

(Hardback)

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A monumental, history-making biography of the man who saved the Mexican Revolution on the 100th anniversary of his death. Pancho Villa, a deeply researched masterpiece, is also a rollicking, sometimes hilariously comical, sometimes extremely violent, and always very personal portrait of the controversial Pancho Villa and the times in which he lived and fought. Villa is one of Mexico's most beloved (or loathed) historical figures and this book provides an unforgettable window onto the Mexican revolution that brings to life the early 20th century in Mexico, replete with period photographs that indelibly capture the rocky transition from the wild and agrarian past towards modern statehood. In this biography translated into English for the first time, renowned crime writer Paco Ignacio Taibo II (a.k.a. PIT)-the prolific historian, biographer of Che Guevara and the founder of Mexican "neopolicial" fiction-brings his tremendous storytelling skills to an account of one of the Mexico's greatest legendary characters. With his vibrant narrative style, Taibo describes the adventures of Pancho Villa with incredible stories, the stuff of history and tragedy, backed up by tremendous research. Throughout, Taibo unveils secrets about the life of one of Mexico's most courageous and charismatic leaders, and establishes as never before Villa's stature as one of the most important founders and protectors of modern Mexico.

Reviews

"From the solemn chronicles of archives to the myths burnished by campfire light; in photographs with their winking shimmer to the oral traditions carried in joke, anecdote, and rumor; from the steady and steadily assailed official record, Paco Ignacio Taibo II captures history as commotion. This narrative biography grants equal weight to what 'actually' happened as to what was said to have happened a lingering sediment of memory and desire. Taibo does not simply reconstruct the 'true story' of Pancho Villa and the Mexican Revolution, he recovers the ache of a world without witness and the transformation of a man into legend."

Christina Heatherton, author of Arise! Global Radicalism in the Era of the Mexican Revolution


Praise for Paco Taibo II

"One of the best crime writers of our time." Gabino Iglesias, Crime Reads

"Paco Ignacio Taibo II is the father of the neopoliciaco genre and one of the most talented and historically educated chroniclers of Mexico City. However, fans of crime fiction should read him because he has a soft spot for everyday people and a fist of anger always ready to attack injustice and defend those who, through their everyday hustling and menial jobs, keep Mexico City functioning." Gabino Iglesias, Crime Reads

"Taibo's writing is witty, provocative, finely nuanced and well worth the challenge." Publisher's Weekly

Paco Taibo II is one of the greatest experts on Pancho Villas life. CNN Mexico

"Taibo writes with genuine savvy, a crackling wit and a certain zaniness that is his very own. Once we pick up the strange but beguiling rhythms of his narrative style, we begin to understand that Taibo is a storyteller of real genius." Jonathan Kirsch, LA Times

"The name Paco Ignacio Taibo II... evokes various descriptions: an author translated in multiple languages, an indefatigable promoter of culture, a hispanic-mexican citizen, a historian, the current director of the Economic Culture Fund, an arduous defendor of art, and, most importantly, a figure of resistance." Adonai Castaeda, Neotraba

Author Bio

PACO IGNACIO TAIBO II, best known for his detective Hector Belascoaran Shayne book series, is one of the foremost crime fiction writers in the Spanish-speaking world today. In 2019 he was named head of Mexico's Fondo de Cultura Econ mica., effectively a minister of literary culture. He is also the director of the acclaimed Semana Negra de Gij n, a literary festival in Spain. He is a tireless social activist, historian, and author of the best-selling biography of Ernesto "Che" Guevara, Guevara Also Known as Che. He has written more than forty books altogether, which have been published in twenty-eight countries, including '68- The mexican Autumn of the Tlatelolco Massacre. Some of his novels have been considered "Best Books of the Year" by the New York Times, Le Monde, and the Los Angeles Times. He has received several literary prizes, including the Premio Hammett for best crime fiction in Spain (three times), the 813 literary award for best foreign crime novel published in France, and the Premio Bancarella for the best book of the year in Italy. TODD CHRETIEN is an organizer, author, translator, and high school Spanish teacher. He has contributed to several books, including Socialist Strategy and Electoral Politics, and is editor of Eyewitnesses to the Russian Revolution.