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CINCO DE MAYO: AN EPIC NOVEL.
Monreal, David. 1996 180p. (pbk) ISBN: 0-915745-48-8 180 pgs.$24.95; Price for class use
$15.95
Three-time award winner writer, Monreal brings life to the passionate, heroic, and
inspiring events that led to the Battle of Puebla on the 5th of May, 1862. His well
researched and well written historical novel brings in all the characters who played a
vital role in Cinco de Mayo. He bring us Benito Juárez and Porfirio Díaz, the Commander
of the Cavalry, who was destined to become President of Mexico; and the young General
Ignacio Zaragoza (1829-1862), who chose Puebla as the place to stop the French invading
forces of Napoleon III, under the command of General Lorencez. Zaragoza prevailed against
the better trained French military officers and battle proven French African troops.
Monreal's assiduous preoccupation with historical accuracy and factual details about
Zaragoza's personal and public life and military career moved him to read all that has
been written in English, Spanish and French sources; led him to avidly explore
Puebla-Zaragoza, the site of the Battle; to meet Zaragoza's proud descendants in search of
the little known family story; and to converse with well known expert historians about
what he learned. Monreal's novel is colorful, exciting and most certainly inspiring. Most
highly recommended
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