Introduction; Part I. Murder: 1. The scene of the crime; 2. The Dongo house; 3. October 23, 1789; Part II. Context: 4. The setting; 5. The viceroys; 6. The judiciary; Part III. Justice: 7. Investigations; 8. The drop of blood; 9. Confessions; Part IV. Characters: 10. Dongo; 11. Rogue lives; 12. Motive: honor; Part V. Consequences: 13. Ceremonies of death; 14. Punishment; 15. Law enforcement reform; Part VI. Interpretations: 16. Violent city; 17. Omens; 18. Artifacts; Part VII. Texts: 19. The anonymous account; 20. The Dongo massacre in texts; 21. Two Dongo novels; Conclusion.
An evocative history of colonial Mexico's 'crime of the century' and its lasting impact on the new Mexican nation in the nineteenth century.
Nicole von Germeten is an Associate Dean in the College of Liberal Arts at Oregon State University. She has written extensively on the history of crime, violence, gender, and sexuality in Latin America.
'Death in Old Mexico brings a gruesome crime into the light of day,
confronting both the problem of the crime itself and our
fascination with spectacular killings. With painstaking attention
to historical context, Nicole von Germeten makes these events
proximate, even intimate, plunging the reader into the material and
emotional world of colonial Mexico. It is a testament to her
writing that the experience proves as unsettling as it is
illuminating.' Sylvia Sellers Garcia, author of The Woman on the
Windowsill: A Tale of Mystery in Several Parts
'The title of this stunningly original new book barely hints at the
complex creativity awaiting the reader. A spoiler alert suggesting
that the introduction be read last - I agree! - strongly hints at
von Germeten's ingenious use of narrative tension, as she strives
with resounding success to balance scholarly empiricism with the
imaginative insights of True Crime writing.' Matthew Restall,
author of Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest and When Montezuma
Met Cortés
'Death in Old Mexico takes readers on a textual tour of death. In
doing so, her work challenges methodological certainties while
compelling us to question our ongoing investment in the
intertwining of violence and entertainment.' William E. French,
University of British Columbia
'Fast paced and compellingly written, Nicole von Germeten analyzes
the paper trail of the infamous Dongo murders and their aftermath,
viewing the events from different vantage points and perspectives
of gender, urban policing, and state surveillance in multiracial
colonial Mexico City. In the process, she offers a rich and complex
picture of a multiracial society on the cusp of modernity.' Martha
Few, author of Women Who Live Evil Lives: Gender, Religion, and the
Politics of Power in Colonial Guatemala
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