Los nobles ante la muerte en Mexico: Actitudes, ceremonias y memoria, 1750-1850 (review)
Inspired by the research of historians such as Michel Vovelle and Philippe Ariès, this work on the nobility in a crucial period in Mexican history paints on a broader canvas than its title suggests. Far more than a study of the ceremonies for and attitudes toward death, the book consists of data and analysis about the origins, lifestyle, and economic activities of the nobility and as well as a careful study of the choices they made about marriage, naming their children, and inheritance. Historians of the social life of Mexico will be indebted to this almost encyclopedic work about a group of men and women who have left a paper trail about their activities. Zàrate has also made excellent use of the work of her predecessors in the field.