George Washington Gomez: A Mexicotexan Novel

In the 1930's, Americo Paredes, the renowned folklorist, wrote a novel set to the background of the struggles by Texas Mexicans to preserve their property, culture, and identity in the face of Anglo-American migration to and growing dominance over the Rio Grande Valley. For his epic novel Paredes chose the title that is as ironic as the protagonist's development under the pressures of cultural and political clashes. Episodes of guerrilla warfare, land grabs, racism, jingoism and abuses by the Texas Rangers make this an adventure novel as well as one of reflection on the making of modern day Texas. "George Washington Gomez" is a true precursor of the modern Chicano novel.