'68: The Mexican Autumn of the Tlatelolco Massacre
​Paco Ignacio Taibo II


​The student movement of 1968 in Mexico City is not defined by “one day of death but by 123 days of heroic strike”. In his book, '68: The Mexican Autumn of the Tlatelolco Massacre, Paco Ignacio Taibo II masterfully uses anecdotal narrative written in his poetic signature style as he revisits the ghosts of the student movement of 1968.
 
With the initial intention of writing a novel about the student movement, Paco wrote notes in three thick notebooks about his participation in the student movement in Mexico City. Unable to complete the novel because the stories were too near and personal to him, Paco decides to narrate a compilation of actual stories from the beginning of the student movement on July 26, 1968, up until its end on December 4 of the same year.
 
Written in chronological order, each chapter holds a unique and dear memory of Paco Ignacio Taibo II as he engaged in epic actions against the oppressive government forces of Mexico. Bazooka blasts, Karate chops, bayonets, stories of love and heartbreak, infiltrated police, tanks, a corncob thrown at a guard. '68 is full of epic moments which will transport the reader to 1968 and witness the ghosts of the past in Paco’s memory.
Paco Ignacio Taibo II is a writer, historian and activist. He is the director of the Fondo de Cultura Económica in Mexico. Paco is the creator of the Nueva novela negra en español, founder of the Brigada Para Leer En Libertad AC, and author of Che Guevara’s most read biography. He has received numerous prestigious awards including, Premio Nacional de Historia INAH, Medalla de acero al Mérito Histórico Capitán Alonso de Leon and Premio Bancarella in Italy. 
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'68: The Mexican Autumn of the Tlatelolco Massacre available in Spanish and English editions is a publication by Seven Stories Press. Click here to purchase. 
Reviewed ​by
Alan Gerardo
​Padilla Aguilar
​10/23/2019
Alan Gerardo Padilla Aguilar specializes in Mexican and Mexican American history. He has been honored with a State of Texas Joint Resolution for his work with the local community. He was chosen to participate in the Harvard Latino Leadership Initiative program at Harvard Kennedy School in 2013. He was also a research assistant for the PBS documentary, “The Head of Joaquin Murrieta.”
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