In the Shadow of the Angel

Rating:
Summary: Merry Bush please read!
Review: Actually I just ordered it today but am sure I will love it as Albert Blair was my great uncle. Imagine my surprise when reading "merry bush's" review! My father is Morgan Blair who is the son of Alexander, brother to Albert.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful book! ...but I could be prejudiced!
Review: I think that the book is wonderful, not only historically correct, but incredibly entertaining. Albert Blair, in the book, was my "Uncle Albert" who often came to our family's home for Thanksgiving dinner. As kids we were fastinated by him since he was from Mexico and would bring us "adult" gifts (like Guerlain perfume when I was around 10 years old...I still have the bottle!) Little did I know what a really fascinating life he had lead! I have been to Mexico and stayed at the home of the wonderful author. I hope she writes again!

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Rating:
Summary: A wonderful book! ...but I could be prejudiced!
Review: I think that the book is wonderful, not only historically correct, but incredibly entertaining. Albert Blair, in the book, was my "Uncle Albert" who often came to our family's home for Thanksgiving dinner. As kids we were fastinated by him since he was from Mexico and would bring us "adult" gifts (like Guerlain perfume when I was around 10 years old...I still have the bottle!) Little did I know what a really fascinating life he had lead! I have been to Mexico and stayed at the home of the wonderful author. I hope she writes again!

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Rating:
Summary: excellent read
Review: I whole-heartedly agree with the reviewer from Connecticut. An excellent book. Very interesting. Really gives you a feel for Mexico in the early part of the 20th century. My only complaint is about the quality of the printing of the book. It is lousy. Their are many misspelled words and punctuation marks out of place. The quality of the photographs in the book is awful. I also have the book in Spanish and the quality of that copy is 100 times better. And there are additional photos not in the English language version.

Rating:
Summary: A truly important book, truly beautifully written
Review: The fascinating life of Antonieta Rivas Mercado, an impressive woman and one of Mexico's feminist heroines, told by the daugher-in-law she never knew. You will have to read this inspired biography and sprawling, gorgeously-written social history to learn why Antonieta never met Kathryn Blair -- in the meantime I can tell you that I would surely like to meet this wonderful author myself. Both English- and Spanish-speaking friends agree that her prose is extraordinary, with intelligence and grace shining through everything she writes. While drafting IN THE SHADOW OF THE ANGEL, Blair had access to a range of primary sources that most researchers would kill for, and she used them wisely and wonderfully, to bring both Antonieta, and her dramatic era (she was "born with the century" in 1900, and participated in many of its most important events and political-cultural currents), to life. Reading this fine book will definitely deepen one's understanding of Mexico in the first half of the 20th century, as well as one's regard for the strength of Mexican women; I believe it should be required reading of anyone who's been razzle-dazzled by Frida-mania!