Dick Davis has put together a list of his favorite books on Mexico, including history, novels and social studies. Dick Davis has been a frequent traveler to Mexico since 1975. He's taught businessmen and high school students. He has lived in San Luis Potosí, Querétero and Dolores Hidalgo. He's traveled by bus, train and more recently by automobile. When he gets lost, it's an adventure.

Dick grew up in California with cities named in Spanish for saints, a Camino Real (Royal Highway) that connected the 21 missions and a host of Spanish named counties, towns, streets, parks and places. All these Spanish names and places, yet the only Mexicans he knew growing up were the Cisco Kid and his sidekick Pancho, and they were on the radio. He saw Zorro flash his sword at the Saturday matinee and in the 50's the popular song Lady of Spain touched his teenage romantic hopes.

When he began to learn about Mexico, it's conquest, history, revolutions, he determined that one day he would travel to the places that he had read about. He was never disappointed. He relived the adventures of the past.

In 1975 he first flew to Mexico City with his family, then traveled by train to see Palenque, then by bus to La Venta, Uxmal and Chichén Itzá. Since then he has traveled throughout the country enchanted more by the colonial north than the Indian south. Strangely he knows little of the most popular tourist resorts.

Dick has his favorite books and authors. And if one speaks Spanish, or wishes to learn, Dick recommends reading the lyrics of Mexican corridos, mariachi songs. "A lot of history is in those songs, they're oral newspapers of their times. Translate 23 de Febrero and you'll learn about Pancho Villa and the Mexican viewpoint. And if you read La Cucaracha you'll be surprised by what you learn."

The book links go to Powells, an independent bookstore in Portland, Oregon. We get a small percentage of each sale.

B. Traven, best known for Treasure of the Sierra Madre, ISBN 0809001608, is Dick's favorite author. But he recommends: Government, ISBN 156663038x (don't be put off by the title), White Rose, Kidnapped Saint, and Night Visitor, ISBN 1566630398 .

These stories capture the essence of the Indian-Mexican spirit. They are as true today as when Traven wrote in the 1920s.

Other books about Mexico, by B. Traven include: The Carreta, ISBN 1566630452, Cotton Pickers, ISBN 1566630754, General from the Jungle, ISBN 1566630762, March to the Monteria, ISBN 1566630460, Marcario, ISBN 9684030150, Rebellion of the Hanged, ISBN 1566630649, Trozas, ISBN 1566632196.

History

The eyewitness account of the conquest, The Discovery and Conquest of Mexico, ISBN 030681319x by Bernal Diaz Del Castillo. He’s the Marco Polo of New World history.

The Conquest of Mexico, ISBN 1931313628 by William Prescott. This is the classic.

Cortes and the Downfall of the Aztec Empire, ISBN 0786702710 by Jon White

History: The Indians' Point of View

The Broken Spears: The Aztec Account of the Conquest of Mexico, ISBN 0807055018 by Miguel Leon-Portillo.

Mexican Codices by Maria Sten.

The Mexican Dream, Or, the Interrupted Thought of Amerindian Civilizations, ISBN 0226110028, by J M G Le Clezio.

Popol Vuh: The Mayan Book of the Dawn of Life, ISBN 0684818450 by Dennis Tedlock.

History: The 1910-1920 Revolution

Chasing Villa, The Last Campaign of the U.S. Calvary by Col. Frank Tomkins.

Zapata and the Mexican Revolution, ISBN 0394708539 by John Womack.

Mexico: Biography of Power: A History of Modern Mexico, 1810-1996, ISBN 0060929170 by Enrique Krauze.

Social Studies and Opinions

Children of Sanchez, ISBN 0394702808 by Oscar Lewis (also a classic).

Buried Mirror: Reflections on Spain & the New World, ISBN 0395672813 by Carlos Fuentes.

Labyrinth of Solitude, ISBN 080215042x by Octavio Paz.

Bordering on Chaos: Mexico's Roller-Coaster Journey Toward Prosperity, ISBN 0316650250 by Andres Oppenheimer.

Coyotes: A Journey Through the Secret World of America's Illegal Aliens, ISBN 0394755189 by Ted Conover.

History in Novel Form

Mexico, ISBN 0449221873 by James Michener.