The Irish Soldiers of Mexico

Rating:
Summary: Best written book on Mexican War
Review: As a full-time teacher working in Mexico I have found it hard to find a fair and factual account of the Mexican War, with the exception of Michael Hogan's The Irish Soldiers of Mexico. Eisenhower's book on the war is obviously biased toward justifying the American invasion, Shaara's novel is merely light entertainment and makes no attempt to be historically ballanced. Hogan's Irish Soldiers, on the other hand, is not only well-researched and well-documented but his is the only work which draws heavily on Mexican journals, manuscripts and archives. It also clarifies the reasons for the war, and the active participation of immigrant people (most notably Irish but also Scots and Germans) who joined the Mexican side and paid for that decision with their lives. As Mexico and the United States draw ever closer as neighbors, trading partners, and allies it is important that we come to understand this period of our mutual past through the clear lens of even-handed history, reading about it not only from U.S. sources and documents but from Mexican and European sources as well. Michael Hogan has provided an invaluable service. It is the only major book by a foreigner which is used in Mexican universities today. The rest are consider merely propaganda.

Rating:
Summary: Best written book on Mexican War
Review: As a full-time teacher working in Mexico I have found it hard to find a fair and factual account of the Mexican War, with the exception of Michael Hogan's The Irish Soldiers of Mexico. Eisenhower's book on the war is obviously biased toward justifying the American invasion, Shaara's novel is merely light entertainment and makes no attempt to be historically ballanced. Hogan's Irish Soldiers, on the other hand, is not only well-researched and well-documented but his is the only work which draws heavily on Mexican journals, manuscripts and archives. It also clarifies the reasons for the war, and the active participation of immigrant people (most notably Irish but also Scots and Germans) who joined the Mexican side and paid for that decision with their lives. As Mexico and the United States draw ever closer as neighbors, trading partners, and allies it is important that we come to understand this period of our mutual past through the clear lens of even-handed history, reading about it not only from U.S. sources and documents but from Mexican and European sources as well. Michael Hogan has provided an invaluable service. It is the only major book by a foreigner which is used in Mexican universities today. The rest are consider merely propaganda.

Rating:
Summary: A Must Read for Anyone Interested In US/Mexican History
Review: Michael Hogan provides a fascinating look at the fate of the Irish who chose to fight for Catholic Mexico against the predominantly Protestant US. His work offers an excellent summary of the US Invasion of Mexico, which is virutally ignored by US history books as well as a focus on the special circumstances encountered by the Irish in the American Armies, some of whom decided that they preferred the other side in the conflict. It is well researched and written, and the narrative is very well supported by maps, photos, and illustrations

Rating:
Summary: A Must Read for Anyone Interested In US/Mexican History
Review: Michael Hogan provides a fascinating look at the fate of the Irish who chose to fight for Catholic Mexico against the predominantly Protestant US. His work offers an excellent summary of the US Invasion of Mexico, which is virutally ignored by US history books as well as a focus on the special circumstances encountered by the Irish in the American Armies, some of whom decided that they preferred the other side in the conflict. It is well researched and written, and the narrative is very well supported by maps, photos, and illustrations

Rating:
Summary: But Not Just Irishmen
Review: Patrick Hogan's book is an excellent insight into the North American invasion of Mexico. Although not particularly well written, it does get the message across extremely well. However, as a Scot living in Mexico, and one who has read the book, visited the memorial plaque in San Angel and the ex-convent at Churubusco and will attend the memorial service at San Angel in September,I feel that potential readers should be aware that not only Irishmen fought and died in the St Patrick's Batallion. One look at the names on the memorial plaque should get that message across - it was a multinational force made up predominantly, but not solely, of Irishmen.

Rating:
Summary: But Not Just Irishmen
Review: Patrick Hogan's book is an excellent insight into the North American invasion of Mexico. Although not particularly well written, it does get the message across extremely well. However, as a Scot living in Mexico, and one who has read the book, visited the memorial plaque in San Angel and the ex-convent at Churubusco and will attend the memorial service at San Angel in September,I feel that potential readers should be aware that not only Irishmen fought and died in the St Patrick's Batallion. One look at the names on the memorial plaque should get that message across - it was a multinational force made up predominantly, but not solely, of Irishmen.