 | | | | What Others are Saying more
"If Dante had had the San Miguel experience, he may have written more about heaven and less about hell." Tom Robbins, 2008"We writers adore the clever, imaginative Literary Sala, the enthusiastic audiences, and the opportunity to learn.”Alice Denham, NY & SMA. Author, Sleeping With the Bad Boys.“There are many wonderful things in San Miguel ... but one of the finest is our Literary Sala. It is always an inspiration, a wake-up to new ideas & raising of consciousness that can't be avoided, if one just shows up”. Elsmarie Norby"I have been enormously moved by the enjoyable presentations of the San Miguel Authors Sala. Not only are the writers well-prepared, their talks are interesting and often emotional. Several years ago at the Writers' Conference, Sena Jeter Naslund made one of the most remarkable talks I have ever heard. It was a moving experience."Wayne Greenhaw, Montgomery, Alabama & San Miguel de Allende
“The Literary Sala events have been a constant source of intellectual stimulation and inspiration. They have become an integral part of our cultural experience and always meet our high expectations.” Adrienne and Arnie Brookstone
The Literary Sala exists to enrich your literary life, be it as a fan of literature or as a writer. After a career in book publishing, I began to write in San Miguel . . . the Literary Sala is my steadfast, codependent enabler as I shift from workaholic editor to obsessive observer and writer.
Vicki Gundrum, peripatetic, often in San Francisco and San Miguel
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September 2, 2010 Thursday: 5:00 - 7:30
Posada San Francisco (across from the Jardin)
70 peso Donation * 50 pesos for Sala Members
Complimentary Wine Reception
Mamie Spiegel
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The San Miguel Literary Sala presents
our Bicentennial Celebration
"The Canal Family: Three Generations of Heroes"
Slide presentation by Mamie Spiegel
followed by a Q and A about her book,
San Miguel and the War of Independence
The book is available NOW
in the Tienda of the Biblioteca
We encourage you to read it before September 2!
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| | "For over 25 years I worked as a ceramist, and eventually I came to be known for my six foot long dining tables, which were covered with tiles and had dinner plates to match. They appeared in several magazines and helped me win an NEA grant. I gave up clay and took to books in the 1990s, when I became more interested in history than ceramics.
In making San Miguel and the War of Independence I have tried to use my years of experience in the visual arts to create a book that is as interesting to look at as it is to read.
My husband and I, who spend half the year in Woodstock and half in San Miguel, have had a house in San Miguel for over thirteen years, and, happily, my daughter, her Mexican husband, and their children also live in San Miguel. My latest enthusiasm is giving tours to tourists to benefit Patronato Pro Niños."
Here’s what Alan Cogan wrote about the book in his review in Mexconnect:
It’s a fascinating and complex story, even if you have some prior knowledge of that aspect of Mexican history and how Mexico finally achieved its independence from Spain. Ms Spiegel’s book is thoroughly researched and she has many stories to tell along the way. Another bonus for readers are the handsome illustrations throughout, on almost every page. The lady has obviously committed a great deal of time and effort to producing this volume.
The Canal Family: Three Generations of Heroes
What is a hero? Somebody who does something extraordinary for the good of the community or another person. When Manuel Tomas de la Canal came to San Miguel el Grande in the 1730s he found a town that was not much more than a frontier outpost, but he saw its great potential.
He poured his heart and soul and considerable fortune into making it as beautiful, rich, dynamic, pious and sanitary a town as he possibly could. He adorned it and improved it, built buildings, churches and industries. He was the principal benefactor of the town, and he bequeathed to his children the same sense of responsibility for and deep commitment to its well being.
There was only one plaza when Manuel came to San Miguel, the one we call the Plaza Civica. Canal and his friends changed that, building their houses around the Parroquia, and bringing to life a whole new center of activity, this one intended exclusively for the upper class.
If we follow the history of the Canal dynasty we can learn a great deal about the development of the town and the nature of daily life in the Viceregal period.
Manuel’s children were not only heroes, but, at a time when woman had very few opportunities to express themselves, heroines. Maria Josefa Lina spent her fortune building a Convent, our Bellas Artes.
The Convent’s turbulent history included rebellions and revolts – with nuns disobeying their Abbess and defying their Bishop – and the threat of scandal always pressing. Maria Josefa Lina’s sister, Joaquin, was a heroine in her own right. She challenged the abusive labor practices that were taking place in her own backyard.
The third generation of Canals produced yet another hero, Narciso Maria Loreto de la Canal. His heroism is unsung, unjustly: his act – or non-act, as we shall see – allowed the War of Independence to proceed. His position was absolutely vital to the unfolding of the Insurrection.
The lecture will be liberally garnished with pictures of life in the 1700s in the Kingdom of New Spain.
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October 14, 2010 Thursday: 5:00 - 7:30
Posada San Francisco (across from the Jardin) 70 peso Donation * 50 pesos for Sala Members
Complimentary Wine Reception
Richard Rhoda & Laura Fraser
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| |  | | Richard Rhoda, born 1945, Berkeley, CA; BS Cal, PhD Iowa (Geography) moved to Ajijic in 1999. He was disappointed to learn how little understanding and respect some gringos had for Mexico. Many regarded Mexico as just another “Third World Country”.
The Rhodas found Mexico to be quite modernized after having lived nearly 20 years in Ghana, the Philippines, Somalia, Egypt, and Honduras, mostly as members of USAID, the US foreign aid agency. In an attempt to educate his fellow retirees, he gave ten lectures on Mexico at the Lake Chapala Society in 2004. After Valerie suggested he put his lecture research in written form, he teamed up with well-known author Tony Burton to produce the widely acclaimed “Geo-Mexico: the Geography and Dynamics of Modern Mexico (Sombrero Books, 2010), the first book ever in English focused on Mexico’s geography as well as its related website: www.geo-mexico.com. He continues to do research and give lectures on Mexico.
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“Mexico Gets No Respect”.
“What images or thoughts come to mind when people hear the word Mexico?” To most foreigners, Mexico is the land of: Drug Wars, Illegal Immigrants, Deserts & Cactus, Tacos & Tequila, Coca-Cola & Corona, Beach Resorts, Widespread Poverty, Carlos Slim (the world’s richest person), Swine Flu, Pre-Columbia ruins.
These perceptions are essentially true, but they do not begin to capture the real importance or significance of Mexico. They don’t suggest that foreigners have much respect for Mexico, perhaps because it is overshadowed by its glaring northern neighbor.
In reality, Mexico is one of the world’s major countries. It ranks 14th in areal size, and 11th in both population and economic production. Only six countries rank in the top 15 in all three categories. Aside from Mexico, the other five are the US, China, India, Russia, and Brazil. Mexico may not be as important as these other five or as important as Japan, Germany, Britain, or France. But a reasonable case can be made that Mexico is among the top ten countries in the world.
Adding to Mexico’s overall importance is its incredible biological diversity, ranking it perhaps fourth behind only Brazil, India and Indonesia. Given it’s desserts, it is not surprising that Mexico ranks first in number of cactus and reptile species. What is surprising is that it ranks second in number of mammal species, behind only Brazil.
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| | Laura Fraser is the author, most recently, of All Over the Map (Harmony Books, 2010), which Booklist called “a winning coming-of-middle-age memoir.”
Her previous book, An Italian Affair (Pantheon, 2001), was a New York Times best-selling travel memoir. She has written for numerous national publications, including the New York Times, O the Oprah Magazine, More, Gourmet, and many others.
To sign up for her Writing Workshop in San Miguel de Allende October 17-23, go to laurafraser.com
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| |  | | Laura will be reading an excerpt about San Miguel de Allende from All Over the Map, and talking about writing memoir. |
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