In 1999 Pope John Paul II proclaimed Our Lady of Guadalupe a patron saint of the Americas. According to oral tradition and historical documents; in 1531 Mary appeared as a beautiful Aztec princess to Juan Diego; a poor Indian. Speaking to him in his own language; she asked him to tell the bishop her name was La Virgen de Guadalupe and that she wanted a church built on the mountain. During a second visit; the image of the Virgin miraculously appeared on his cape. Through the centuries; the enigmatic power of this image has aroused such fervent devotion in Mexico that it has served as the banner of the rebellion against Spanish rule and; despite skepticism and anticlericalism; still remains a potent symbol of the modern nation. In Mexican Phoenix; David Brading traces the intellectual origins; the sudden efflorescence; and the theology that has sustained the tradition of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Brading also documents the interaction of religion and patriotism; and describes how the image has served as a banner both for independence and for the Church in its struggle against the Liberal and revolutionary state. David Brading is Professor of Mexican History at the University of Cambridge. He began his career at the University of California; Berkeley; and at Yale University. He is also the author of Church and State in Bourbon Mexico (Cambridge; 1994); The First America (Cambridge; 1991); and Miners and Merchants in Bourban Mexico; 1730-1810 (Cambridge; 1971). Hb ISBN (2001): 0-521-80131-1
#309857 in Books Cambridge University Press 2008-06-30 2008-09-18Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.21 x .71 x 6.14l; .95 #File Name: 0521703980296 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Amazing. Simply amazingBy CustomerAmazing. Simply amazing.8 of 10 people found the following review helpful. Explodes the "Southern Belle" myth.By Jane MailanderA vivid look at the reality behind the false image of Scarlett O'Hara. Maybe if Scarlett drank; did opium and beat the crap out of Mammy every day that would be closer to the real life experienced by black and white women in Southern plantation houses.17 of 18 people found the following review helpful. Good Starting PointBy Thomas W. RobinsonIn this well written and thoroughly researched volume; Glymph argues that the terms "public" and "private" are not accurate enough to define how the plantation household changed or to describe the gendered ideology of the South. Instead; the author contends; the management of labor became the driving force in households. Furthermore; the very nature of what constituted a household changed as the Civil War was fought and slaves were emancipated. Perhaps the greatest accomplishment of this book; though; is Glymph's persuasive attempt to challenge the myth of the antebellum southern plantation mistress and house servant. And that is the beauty of Glymph's work. One does feel as though they get a picture of women in the plantation household; not just white women or black women; but both. Glymph argues early in the book that too many historians have not given a complete analysis of the plantation mistress; the power she wielded; the violence she meted out; and the role she played in enforcing slavery. As Glymph points out; it was the plantation mistress who had day-to-day contact with slaves whereas the male master may not. Because Glymph uses sources from both white and black women; it gives a fuller picture of the antebellum household. The post-war South saw white women entering the market as employers; but; Glymph argues; it was black women who had more experience in negotiating wages. Furthermore; black men and women began to use public displays such as parades and celebrations to celebrate their freedom; which unnerved white women. Perhaps the chief accomplishment of Glymph's work is to raise questions about relationship of black and white women after emancipation and what it means in terms of freedom in the post-war South. There are a few things to criticize about Glymph's work. First; although important to her overall argument; the first two chapters seem very repetitive. Glymph proves that there was violence perpetrated by white mistresses; but it seems she could have done this in less pages. Second; this is really a tale of elite white women. Glymph points this out and argues that the book still has implications for the South at large; but it still makes one wonder if the elite white women represent the bulk of the South. Finally; Glymph is prone to hyperbole at times to prove her point. For example; on page 113; Glymph writes; "Adequate medical care; a luxury on the battlefield; became almost nonexistent on the home front." One might successfully argue that medical care was better for people in the southern military than on the home front; but to use a blanket statement like "adequate" is a mistake. Medical care; especially for southern soldiers; was not very good and hundreds of thousands of men on both sides died due to disease. These criticisms aside; Glymph has written a very original work that seems to have broken new ground and makes one consider big questions.
