Little has been written about the colonists sent by Spanish authorities to settle the northern frontier of New Spain, to stake Spain’s claim and serve as a buffer against encroaching French explorers. "Los Paisanos," they were called - simple country people who lived by their own labor, isolated, threatened by hostile Indians, and restricted by law from seeking opportunity elsewhere. They built their homes, worked their fields, and became permanent residents - the forebears of United States citizens - as they developed their own society and culture, much of which survives today.

"The Spanish Redemption contributes an extremely important chapter to the burgeoning literature on the construction of whiteness in the United States, to our understanding of the shifting and complicated relationship between ethnicity and class, and a concrete example of how culture can be used to shape political and economic identities. With considerable dexterity and authority, with nuance and subtly, with newly utilized archival evidence, and with a glorious narrative flair, Montgomery fastidiously describes the racial politics that were played out through the cultural production of an imagined Spanish past."—Ramón Gutiérrez, author of When Jesus Came the Corn Mothers Went Away: Marriage, Sexuality, and Power in New Mexico, 1500-1846, and co-editor of Contested Eden: California Before the Gold Rush "Between the two world wars, villagers in northern New Mexico became Spanish Americans rather than Mexican Americans, and artists, writers, and boosters celebrated their previously despised arts, crafts, architecture, foods, and folkways. With probing intelligence and graceful, limpid prose, Montgomery tells the remarkable story of this shift in regional identity and its disturbing and enduring consequences. The "quaint" Hispano villages of northern New Mexico will never look the same."—David J. Weber, author of The Spanish Frontier in North America

In this book, Mireya Loza sheds new light on the private lives of migrant men who participated in the Bracero Program (1942–1964), a binational agreement between the United States and Mexico that allowed hundreds of thousands of Mexican workers to enter this country on temporary work permits. While this program and the issue of temporary workers has long been politicized on both sides of the border, Loza argues that the prevailing romanticized image of braceros as a family-oriented, productive, legal workforce has obscured the real, diverse experiences of the workers themselves. Focusing on underexplored aspects of workers' lives--such as their transnational union-organizing efforts, the sexual economies of both hetero and queer workers, and the ethno-racial boundaries among Mexican indigenous braceros--Loza reveals how these men defied perceived political, sexual, and racial norms. Basing her work on an archive of more than 800 oral histories from the United States and Mexico, Loza is the first scholar to carefully differentiate between the experiences of mestizo guest workers and the many Mixtec, Zapotec, Purhepecha, and Mayan laborers. In doing so, she captures the myriad ways these defiant workers responded to the intense discrimination and exploitation of an unjust system that still persists today.

Discover the compelling and dramatic narrative of ""The Model"" by Guy De Maupassant. This poignant short story explores the life of a painter and his muse, delving into themes of artistic inspiration, obsession, and the complexity of human relationships. Maupassant’s narrative provides an insightful look at the dynamics between an artist and his subject. De Maupassant skillfully captures the tension and emotional depth of the characters, highlighting the sacrifices and struggles involved in the pursuit of artistic perfection. The story reflects on the personal costs of creativity and the impact of the artistic process on individuals. ""The Model"" is ideal for readers who appreciate character-driven stories and explorations of artistic and personal relationships. Perfect for those who value Guy De Maupassant’s nuanced and introspective storytelling.