Forging the tortilla curtain : cultural drift and change along the United States-Mexico border, from the Spanish era to the present /

Chronicling the development of perceptions of the border, the author explains that although the border demarcation was actually established by 1880, the myth of a frontier surrounding the border lives beyond this date "in the heart if not the head." Torrans attempts to explain the reasons behind this myth through entertaining stories of history and the colorful characters that have populated the area. The book is divided into three parts. "Economics of Space" focuses on the Spanish era and the geography of the border region, but also explores US interest in the region and the allure it held for filibusters like William Walker. "Dividing the Continent" presents US investment opportunities along the border and includes interesting material on William Greene's copper company. "A Disparate Unity" investigates current issues for both the US and Mexico. Torrans impresses the reader with the finite territoriality that a border represents in contrast to its culturally fluidity. This is not a history of the region. In fact, the chronological presentation is sometimes confusing and references to historic figures seem incomplete, but readers will enjoy the overview that the book offers. General collections. D. Baldwin University of Arkansas at Little Rock