On the Border - (Latin American Silhouettes) by Andrew Grant Wood (Paperback)

About the Book

A stunningly beautiful backdrop where cultures meet, meld, and thrive, the U.S.-Mexico borderlands is one of the most dynamic regions in the Americas. On the Border explores little-known corners of this fascinating area of the world in a rich collection of essays. Beginning wi...

Book Synopsis

A stunningly beautiful backdrop where cultures meet, meld, and thrive, the U.S.-Mexico borderlands is one of the most dynamic regions in the Americas. On the Border explores little-known corners of this fascinating area of the world in a rich collection of essays. Beginning with an exploration of mining and the rise of Tijuana, the book examines a number of aspects of the region's social and cultural history, including urban growth and housing, the mysterious underworld of border-town nightlife, a film noir treatment of the Peteet family suicides, borderlands cuisine, the life of squatters, and popular religion. As stimulating as it is lively, On the Border will spark a new appreciation for the range of social and cultural experiences in the borderlands.

Review Quotes

On the Border is an exciting and wide-ranging compilation of the most recent and innovative research in interdisciplinary border studies from both the United States and Mexico. It will be extremely useful in a number of courses dealing with border studies, Chicano studies, immigration, and global studies.

On the Border is an insightful contribution to border studies. In drawing from an interdisciplinary mosaic of academic perspectives and alternative methodologies, Andrew Wood has compiled a volume that begs a fresh look at the development of the social and political relationship between the U.S. and Mexico. Ultimately, the book succeeds in that it encourages even those with a strong background in border studies to reconsider their own perceptions of the region.

This eclectic collection of essays explores diverse aspects of life on the U.S.-Mexican border, from the mid-nineteenth century to the present. The contributions, many by younger scholars and based on solid research, expand and enrich our understanding of life along the border between Mexico and the United States. The collection is also outstanding for the diverse disciplinary and methodological perspectives of the authors, who are from the fields of history, anthropology, and geography. The essays are well-written, engaging, and nicely illustrated with many historic photographs, postcards, maps, and film posters. This collection is a significant advance in border scholarship through its exploration of important but poorly understood aspects of border reality.

About the Author

Andrew Grant Wood is associate professor of history at the University of Tulsa.