THE HERO OF CINCO DE MAYO / EL HÉROE DE CINCO DE MAYO

Born in 1829, Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín grew up desiring to embody the life of a dedicated soldier. Shortly after the U.S.–Mexican War of 1846-1848, he enlisted in the Mexican army at the age of 24. Despite a burgeoning family, Zaragoza remained committed to his military life, eventually achieving the title of commander of the Mexican army and navy. The arrival of the formidable French army—with their superior weaponry and experienced soldiers—in 1862 proved to be the biggest challenge of his life. Amid the deaths of his wife and three of their children due to typhoid, Zaragoza used his knowledge of the terrain and cunning strategies at the Battle of Puebla to best the French army and thus secure his spot in Mexico’s history. Presented in both English and Spanish (the latter via Baeza Ventura’s translation), Gutiérrez’s sober, plain account offers neither a larger-than-life legend nor a multifaceted portrayal. Rather, the author’s version of Zaragoza comes across as an uber-patriot, a man whose worth is mostly measured in military feats. More fascinating are the rare snippets readers receive of the times, like the fact that Zaragoza’s troops consisted of volunteers, including women. In Marchesi’s dutiful artwork, full of sweeping panoramas and figures frozen in conflict, Zaragoza remains a graceful symbol locked in honor.

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