Just finished this excellent historical novel about Pancho Villa and the Mexican Revolution. It was written from the perspective of Tom Mix, the silent movie actor, who may have actually fought with Villa during the revolution before going to Hollywood to become a film star. The novel was full of blood, sex, and action and provided many details of the Revolution that I was really unfamiliar with. For example, I wasn't sure what roles Villa and Zapata played - the novel explains that Villa led the Northern group of revolutionaries and Zapata, the Southern group. They never really fought together. The book delves into all the gruesomeness of war and describes many of the battles. It also details how and why the Americans were chasing Villa, including General Pershing and then-Lieutenant George Patton. This book took me a while to read - it was somewhat long - but it was well worth the effort. I would highly recommend this one to anyone interested in the history of the Mexican Revolution and its Generals or in Tom Mix.
Tom Mix & Pancho Villa by Clifford Irving is one of the most overlooked masterpieces in American literature. It is by turns a great adventure story, an examination of the nature of revolution, an historical fantasy, a philosophical treatise on the nature (and shortcomings) of monogamy; but most of all it's a great read.The storytelling shows a master writer at work. Irving may be best known for the Howard Hughes caper, but this book shows he is a writer with total mastery of craft. This was my second reading of the book, and I read it on my Kindle. (The first time was back when it first came out.)Several references are made to Dumas' Three Musketeers, and I certainly saw the similarities, and the differences. But if Dumas's writing and swashbuckling storytelling still excites you, you'll love this book.If you like adventure, romance, historical fiction, cowboys, and a rip roaring tale of rebellion, intrigue, and the costs of the struggle for freedom, this one's for you.Uke Jackson
What do You think about Tom Mix And Pancho Villa (1984)?
This is a very well-written fictionalized historical account of Tom Mix's four years as a soldier in Pancho Villa's revolutionary army. It is written as a convincing autobiography, though, I admit, I thought Tom Mix was a creation of the author. When I finished, I did a quick internet search, and lo and behold....Tom Mix....silent film and early western movie star. I'm glad I didn't realize that before I finished the book. I don't think it would have ruined the story in any way, but I prefer the images of a rugged, ragged, and resilient young man to the polished actor in staged Hollywood photographs. In any case, to my surprise, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and didn't mind pushing through some of the more long-winded sections between plot points.
—Amanda
