Stories that Make History: Mexico through Elena Poniatowska’s ‘Crónicas’ by Lynn Stephen (review)

Reviewed by: Stories that Make History: Mexico through Elena Poniatowska's 'Crónicas' by Lynn Stephen Niamh Thornton Stories that Make History: Mexico through Elena Poniatowska's 'Crónicas'. By Lynn Stephen. Durham, NC: Duke University Press. 2021. xii+312 pp. £24.99. ISBN 978–1–4780–1464–5. Consisting of an Introduction, six chapters, and a Conclusion, Stories that Make History is the product of a decade of applied research on and interviews with Elena Poniatowska. It is alert to her participation in public events and activities in Mexico, while reflecting on a prodigious output which encompasses interviews, articles, and fiction and non-fiction books. The Introduction provides a brief overview of the crónica's development from colonial times to the present day in Mexico, taking in its relationship to testimonio, oral histories, and other non-standard texts. Lynn Stephen notes how those [End Page 422] marginalized by conventional history have often found a vehicle of expression in the crónica form and applies the concept of 'strategic emotional political community' throughout. This concept, informed by decolonial intersectional theories, is acknowledged as an extension of the Colombian scholar Myriam Jimeno's notion of 'emotional community'. Stephen suggests that it is the application of the said approach by Poniatowska in her writing, performances, and activism that has made her such a successful activist, deftly wielding discursive strategies and with a capacity to engage audiences through texts and live appearances. Following this preamble, the first chapter provides a concise and erudite history of newspaper and book publishing in Mexico alongside a discussion of how Poniatowska fits into the role of the public intellectual. This is a useful synthesis for anyone unfamiliar with this milieu. The remaining five chapters focus on signifi-cant events: the 1968 student movement; the 1985 earthquake; the EZLN rebellion; AMLO's electoral bids; and the forty-three disappeared students in Ayotzinapa. Interspersed with these public events are biographical details of Poniatowska's life and work that provide some important biographical and emotional context. The Conclusion reflects on Poniatowska's continued energy to write and engage in activism into her ninetieth year. As an anthropologist Stephen exhibits considerable strengths in her ability to draw on stories or interviews to illustrate a significant moment. She also uses vignettes vivid with description and colour as an introduction to complex concepts or historical events. Strong on context, Stephen has an impressive capacity to synthesize and describe the key details of dramatic moments in recent Mexican history and the major figures involved in these. Some of her methodologies are more successful than others. The comparative analysis of former president Miguel de la Madrid's account of his handling of the 1985 earthquake in his autobiography with that of the testimonies gathered in Poniatowska's crónica Nada nadie: las voces del temblor (1988) is particularly astute and insightful. Putting them into dialogue draws attention to the gaps, solipsism, and unintended revelations of de la Madrid. Less successful is the modest reader-response survey carried out on La noche de Tlatelolco (1971), Poniatowska's crónica of the events of 1968. Given how much critical attention this text has already received, not much is added here in what effectively functions as a brief interlude in a chapter otherwise packed with clear analysis and important reflections. Stories that Make History is a book overflowing with people and key moments which, thanks to Stephen's compelling prose and range of references to individuals and key historical moments, makes a strong case for the power of narrative. It showcases the significance of Poniatowska as someone who has spent a lifetime at the forefront of exploring ethical approaches to the telling and performing of stories. [End Page 423]