North From Mexico: The Spanish-Speaking People of the United States; Updated by Matt S. Meier (Contributions in American History)

This is a comprehensive review of Spanish, Mexican, Indian, Anglo-American and Texan peoples (yes, there really are such creatures!), their movements and interactions over several centuries. Not a quick read, but well worth the time.

After more than fifty years this is still the best study of the US-Mexico border region. It is THE foundational work - covering history, culture and politics of the border in a vivid and unforgettable way. Carey McWilliams was a wonderful writer and storyteller and had an encyclopedic understanding of the history of the Spanish in the Southwest, the US expansion into the region, and the long and tragic history of the later Mexican migration back into the border States. The book is as fresh today as if written this year, and it is more important than ever as the US will once again take up immigration reform. The book is a must-read, not just as a textbook, but for everyone interested in really understanding the history of our relations with Mexico.

The author is very clear about defining what group he is describing (a difficult task, given the mixing of cultures and moving borders). I found the writing to be very clear. Although references are provided, the chapters flow well and it is easy to grasp the overall picture.

Excellent