Here's to You, Jesusa! - by Elena Poniatowska (Paperback)

About the Book

This classic of Mexican literature is a sensitive retelling of the life of Jesusa Palancares de Aguilar, a girl in the early 20th century, whose life is one of tragedy, violence, and servitude that lead to her long history of run-ins with the police.

Book Synopsis

A remarkable novel that uniquely melds journalism with fiction, by Elena Poniatowska, the recipient of the prestigious 2013 Cervantes Prize

Jesusa is a tough, fiery character based on a real working-class Mexican woman whose life spanned some of the seminal events of early twentieth-century Mexican history. Having joined a cavalry unit during the Mexican Revolution, she finds herself at the Revolution's end in Mexico City, far from her native Oaxaca, abandoned by her husband and working menial jobs. So begins Jesusa's long history of encounters with the police and struggles against authority. Mystical yet practical, undaunted by hardship, Jesusa faces the obstacles in her path with gritty determination.

Here in its first English translation, Elena Poniatowska's rich, sensitive, and compelling blend of documentary and fiction provides a unique perspective on history and the place of women in twentieth-century Mexico.

About the Author

Elena Poniatowska is a journalist and the author of more than forty works, including the classic Massacre in Mexico and the novel Dear Diego. The recipient of the 2013 Cervantes Prize, she lives in Mexico City.