In James A. Michener's Mexico, one of the world's greatest bestselling writers tells the story of a tumultuous land, in a novel that vividly captures the sweep of Mexico's colorful history and teems with a multitude of unforgettable characters.Moving between the past and present - from important events in Mexico's history to the excitement of a modern-day bullfight - and ranging from the arid plains of Mexico to Inquisition Spain and Civil War Virginia, here is the stirring saga of a man and a nation searching for their identities.Norman Clay, an American journalist, arrives in Mexico not only to report on the decisive duel between two celebrated matadors but also to learn more about his family's past. As he uncovers the story of his Mexican ancestors - among them an indomitable Indian queen, a conquistador priest, and a Confederate expatriate - the dramatic history of Mexico unfolds: the brilliance and brutality of an ancient native culture; the Spaniards' struggle to win souls and silver in the sixteenth century; the Mexican-American War; and the birth of a modern nation in bloodshed and revolution.Mr. Michener began to write this novel in 1961. After many months of research and writing he put it aside to work on another project, and then another, and eventually lost track of it. Thirty years later he discovered the lost manuscript and set to work completing it. The result is another Michener triumph, following in the magnificent tradition of Centennial, Texas, and Alaska. Read Less