Zapata.
Reviewed by Bruce Jensen, South Texas Coll. Lib., McAllen, TX -- Críticas, 1/15/2008
Palou, Pedro Ángel.
Mexico/U.S.: Planeta. 2006. 233p. ISBN 970-37-0521-9. pap. $21.95. HISTORICAL FICTION
One of last year’s highlights of Mexican fiction, this spare and taciturn sketch of the emblematic revolutionary is a jagged ride through the tumult that shaped the nation during the first two decades of the past century. Palou—who at 42 is barely beyond Zapata’s age when he was betrayed and killed—is a luminary novelist, a master of the inner voice who carries us inside Zapata’s head to show the difficult mind of a principled man. Unimpressed by the seductive pull of power and glory, Palou’s protagonist spurns nearly every corrupting temptation as he stays focused on the cause that somehow pulled him into the public imagination, the fair distribution of ancestral land. Fascinating vignettes, including Zapata’s supposed sexual encounters with the infamous Ignacio de la Torre and his almost equally awkward meetings with leaders of one version or another of the revolution, make for a rich portrait. The story’s frequent touchstones are corridos, popular revolutionary ballads of the day that celebrated the exploits of Zapata and his army. Many were penned by Marciano Silva Peralta, the legendary bard of the Zapatistas, whose songs endure a century later. The author quotes many corridos at length, then fleshes out the lyrics with sharply chiseled episodes that waste few words. The text and the old songs complement each other superbly. Palou immersed himself in the history; this book includes a time line, a couple of maps, and an impressive bibliography that evidently represents only a portion of his reading on Zapata. Recommended for all libraries and bookstores.
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