Gringo Rebel

Gringo Rebel, first published in 1960, is the account of Swedish-born adventurer Ivor Thord-Gray of his time in 1913-1914 in revolutionary Mexico. Thord-Gray first served as an artillery officer in Francisco 'Pancho' Villa’s forces, and later served as a cavalry officer in Carranza’s army under Obregón. He formed close bonds with his Yaqui and Tarahumara scouts, and later prepared a Tarahumara-English Dictionary, and other books about Mexican archaeology. Gringo Rebel offers a first-hand look at the poorly understood conflict in Mexico between the wealthy ruling class and the large majority of land-less peasants living in slave-like conditions, as well as insights into rebel leaders such as Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata (leader of the 'Zapatistas'). Seventeen pages of illustrations are included in this new edition.

Volume 2 of The Mexican Revolution begins with the army counter-revolution of 1913, which ended Francisco Madero's liberal experiment and installed Victoriano Huerta's military rule. After the overthrow of the brutal Huerta, Venustiano Carranza came to the forefront, but his provisional government was opposed by Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata, who come powefully to life in Alan Knight's book. Knight offers a fresh interpretation of the great schism of 1914-15, which divided the revolution in its moment of victory, and which led to the final bout of civil war between the forces of Villa and Carranza. By the end of this brilliant study of a popular uprising that deteriorated into political self-seeking and vengeance, nearly all the leading players have been assassinated. In the closing pages, Alan Knight ponders the essential question: what had the revolution changed? His two-volume history, at once dramatic and scrupulously documented, goes against the grain of traditional assessments of the "last great revolution."

Analyzes the raucous career of one of the Mexican Revolution's central figures

This clearly written and carefully argued narrative presents a less mythical and more human Zapata against the dramatic and chaotic background of the Mexican Revolution.

A memoir of an unconventional life, this work offers both general readers and scholars a journey behind the lines of the Great Depression, combat in Normandy and northern Germany, early civil rights and labor organizing in the south.

The years 1899 through 1941 are remarkable even by Latin America’s uniquely turbulent standards. During this time, border disputes and domestic insurrections forcefully shaped the history of this area, as many countries made the rocky transition from agrarian to industrial societies. This volume provides a concise survey of Latin American wars between 1899 and 1941. It compares and contrasts the wars and considers them in light of military theory. It also demonstrates how instrumental wars have been in directing the history of Latin America, and how the United States has often influenced these wars in a decisive manner. Wars examined include border disputes in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Panama, and Costa Rica, and domestic insurrections in Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, and Nicaragua. Numerous photographs and maps illustrate the text and make it easy to follow every military campaign. The vivid narrative captures the human drama of the wars and brings to life the violent clashes of powerful personalities in unusually hostile terrain. Jungles, mountains, and deserts ravaged armies no less dramatically than combat, and the emotions the wars released make many episodes unforgettable. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.