Justo Sierra O'Reilly
Encyclopedia
Justo Sierra O'Reilly Mexican
novelist and historian; father of Mexican author and political figure Justo Sierra Méndez
. Sierra O'Reilly was born in the southeastern Mexican state of Yucatán; His father-in-law Santiago Méndez Ibarra was the governor there in 1847, in the middle of the
Mexican-American War (in which the state of Yucatán declared its neutrality) and at the outbreak of the Caste War of Yucatán
. In September of that year, he went to the United States as a negotiator on behalf of his father-in-law's government, to request U.S. military aid against the Maya
rebels (who seemed, at that moment, poised to take over the peninsula), and to offer the possibility of U.S. annexation of Yucatán in exchange. His attempts at diplomacy on behalf of the quasi-independent peninsula went nowhere, and by the time he returned home in 1848, Mexico had lost the northern half of its territory to the U.S. but had also solved its differences with Yucatán, and Sierra O'Reilly found himself with an unemployed father-in-law and no government position for himself. It was then, at the age of 34, that he turned to literature. The chapters of his popular melodramatic novel, La Hija del Judío, a historical novel in the style of Sir Walter Scott about the star-crossed love of the daughter of a Jewish merchant in colonial Mexico, were published in installments in El Fénix, a newspaper that he founded in Campeche. Published years later in book form, the novel sold well all over Latin America. His other works include the pirate novel El Filibustero, the travel journal Impresiones de un viaje a los Estados Unidos de América y al Canadá (1851), and numerous writings on the regional history of Yucatán such as Teogonía de los antiguos indios and Importancia de un Museo de Antigüedades, as well as Spanish translations of John Lloyd Stephens
's works on Yucatán.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
novelist and historian; father of Mexican author and political figure Justo Sierra Méndez
Justo Sierra
Justo Sierra Méndez , was a prominent Mexican writer, journalist, poet and political figure of the second half of the nineteenth century. He was the son of Mexican novelist Justo Sierra O'Reilly, who is credited with inspiring his son with the spirit of literature...
. Sierra O'Reilly was born in the southeastern Mexican state of Yucatán; His father-in-law Santiago Méndez Ibarra was the governor there in 1847, in the middle of the
Mexican-American War (in which the state of Yucatán declared its neutrality) and at the outbreak of the Caste War of Yucatán
Caste War of Yucatán
The Caste War of Yucatán began with the revolt of native Maya people of Yucatán, Mexico against the population of European descent, called Yucatecos, who held political and economic control of the region. A lengthy war ensued between the Yucateco forces in the north-west of the Yucatán and the...
. In September of that year, he went to the United States as a negotiator on behalf of his father-in-law's government, to request U.S. military aid against the Maya
Maya peoples
The Maya people constitute a diverse range of the Native American people of southern Mexico and northern Central America. The overarching term "Maya" is a collective designation to include the peoples of the region who share some degree of cultural and linguistic heritage; however, the term...
rebels (who seemed, at that moment, poised to take over the peninsula), and to offer the possibility of U.S. annexation of Yucatán in exchange. His attempts at diplomacy on behalf of the quasi-independent peninsula went nowhere, and by the time he returned home in 1848, Mexico had lost the northern half of its territory to the U.S. but had also solved its differences with Yucatán, and Sierra O'Reilly found himself with an unemployed father-in-law and no government position for himself. It was then, at the age of 34, that he turned to literature. The chapters of his popular melodramatic novel, La Hija del Judío, a historical novel in the style of Sir Walter Scott about the star-crossed love of the daughter of a Jewish merchant in colonial Mexico, were published in installments in El Fénix, a newspaper that he founded in Campeche. Published years later in book form, the novel sold well all over Latin America. His other works include the pirate novel El Filibustero, the travel journal Impresiones de un viaje a los Estados Unidos de América y al Canadá (1851), and numerous writings on the regional history of Yucatán such as Teogonía de los antiguos indios and Importancia de un Museo de Antigüedades, as well as Spanish translations of John Lloyd Stephens
John Lloyd Stephens
John Lloyd Stephens was an American explorer, writer, and diplomat. Stephens was a pivotal figure in the rediscovery of Maya civilization throughout Middle America and in the planning of the Panama railroad....
's works on Yucatán.
Sources
- Breve historia de Campeche by Carlos Justo Sierra
- "Un James Bond Novohispano" from Revista Conciencia Online, Año 2, Número 7, noviembre de 2001