Cult of Defeat in Mexico''s Historical Fiction - Failure, Trauma, and Loss

Cult of Defeat in Mexico''s Historical Fiction: Failure, Trauma, and Loss examines recent Mexican historical novels that highlight the mistakes of the nineteenth century for the purpose of responding to present crises. Over the last twenty years, historical novels have become a mainstay for major presses, surpassing other fictional genres in publication and sales. As these bestsellers enter the public sphere, they engage in a massive rewrite of the country''s guiding fictions and national myths. This book argues that historical reconstructions of the nation''s foundational period acquire deeper meaning when understood as part of broad contemporary debates about globalization, neoliberalism, political legitimacy, and the crises afflicting Mexican communities today.