Great reading that provides a sense of the city, from the Traveler online Ultimate Travel Library.
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LA Capital, by Jonathan Kandell (1988)
“Every chapter is a different century and you get a real feeling of how the city grew up.”—Bridget Estavillo, co-founder, La Sombra del Sabino bookstore. Compelling history of the first big city of the new world by a former Latin American correspondent for the New York Times.
A True Story Based on Lies, by Jennifer Clement (2002)
Haunting contemporary tale of domestic slavery and abuse set in a typical well-to-do home in Mexico City. Poetic rendering of the real life and psychology of the capital’s servant classes.
Life in Mexico, by Frances Calderon de la Barca (1843)
All-time favorite laced with detail and an enduring sense of wonder.
The Labyrinth of Solitude, by Octavio Paz (1950)
“Obligatory. One of the most profound pieces of writing about Mexico.”—Bridget Estavillo. Key work by Nobel Prize Laureate Octavio Paz on national identity, including observations of urban Mexico.
Mexican Postcards, by Carlos Monsivais (1997)
Probing satire and whimsical musings by a leading cultural critic, with valuable insights into the city’s pop culture.
Travel Advisory, by David Lida (1999)
Ten gritty short stories lay bare the mutually parasitical aspect of cross-cultural relationships. Grim but fair glimpses into the city, its habits, and inhabitants.
Battles in the Desert and Other Stories, by José Emilio Pacheco (1981)
Seven short stories outlining the often rough and gritty life of middle of the century Mexico City.
Broken Spears: The Aztec Account of the Conquest of Mexico, by Miguel León-Portilla (1962)
Accessible and moving accounts rendered by one of the country’s outstanding anthropologists.
Nothing, Nobody: The Voices of the Mexico City Earthquake, by Elena Poniatowska (1988)
Gripping testimonials from the tragic 1985 earthquake whose scars are still visible on the capital, evoking the courage and spirit of the city’s inhabitants.
