Administración y política en la historia de México

En ésta novela se retratan con detalle y empatía la despesperanzada vida de los ferrocarrileros en México de mediados del siglo xx, sus batallas laborales y su miseria, la ilusión de una huelga redentora y la severidad de la traición. Por estas páginas atraviesa un fantasmal José Trigo, más símbolo que protagonista, y un conjunto de personajes doloridos, víctimas del drama cristero de los años treinta, de la corrupción sindical de las décadas posteriores y del inequitativo progreso de la nación. [From back cover.]

"Revisionist view of the traditional interpretation of 1923 revolt as a reaction against Obregón's imposition of Calles. Authors study four different regional revolts between 1923-24, all with different leaders and provoked by different causes: Rómulo Figueroa in Guerrero, Enrique Estrada in Jalisco, Guadalupe Sánchez in Veracruz, and Fortunato Maycotte in Oaxaca. Rebels failed because of a lack of central control or unifying program. Adolfo de la Huerta played only a 'decorative role' in the armed movement against Obregón"--Handbook of Latin American Studies, v. 58.

Sharply critical analysis of Mexico's recent round of ambitious structural reforms, particularly of oil industry and finance reforms, which author says show direct line of descent from 18th-century Bourbon reforms, politics of Porfirio Diaz and neoliberal ideals of Carlos Salinas de Gortari, historical antecedents vilified by many on left in Mexico. Author was Mexico's youngest elected governor and is currently serving in Congress.