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.