Diplomatic Days

In Short

Diplomatic Days is a vivid personal memoir told through letters written by Edith O'Shaughnessy, wife of an American diplomat stationed in Mexico City from May 1911 to October 1912. The book documents a pivotal period of upheaval, capturing the quiet collapse of President Porfirio Díaz's long rule, the peaceful interim presidency of Francisco León de la Barra, and the turbulent rise of the idealist reformer Francisco Madero. It has endured as an irreplaceable historical document because it couples keen, unfiltered eyewitness reporting on high politics with an intimate, sensitive portrait of everyday Mexican life and culture.

The Story

The narrative opens in May 1911 as Edith O'Shaughnessy arrives in Mexico aboard a ship bound for Vera Cruz. Coming from Europe, she is immediately struck by the exotic sensory world of the tropics, from the lush, wild landscapes to the colorful open-air markets. Upon arriving in Mexico City, she settles into diplomatic life at Calle Humboldt alongside her husband, Nelson. The altitude, primitive living conditions, and constant micro-threats—from unboiled drinking water to minor earthquakes—form an immediate learning curve. Yet, overarching all domestic concerns is a sense of impending political transformation.

Mexico is on the brink of revolution. The long-standing dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz is collapsing under the pressure of anti-reelectionist forces led by the mystical, visionary reformer Francisco Madero. O'Shaughnessy describes the surreal juxtaposition of everyday high-society routine—diplomatic dinners, receptions at Chapultepec Castle, bullfights, and garden parties—with news of revolutionary violence drawing nearer from the north and south.

In May, Díaz resigns, leaving the country for exile aboard the steamer Ypiranga. An interim government under President Francisco León de la Barra takes over to stabilize the nation and oversee elections. O'Shaughnessy observes de la Barra's smooth, dignified tenure with admiration, noting his efforts to hold the country together via moderation committees while various factions begin to turn on one another. Soon, Madero makes his triumphant entry into Mexico City, hailed as an apostle of equality during days of intense public adoration.

As Madero wins the election and assumes the presidency in late 1911, the hopeful honeymoon quickly vanishes. Insurrections erupt across the country. Emiliano Zapata looms in the south, demanding land reform for the indigenous population, while General Bernardo Reyes and Pascual Orozco challenge the central government elsewhere. In response, General Victoriano Huerta is dispatched to put down rebellions in Morelos and the north. O'Shaughnessy records the tragic realities of the conflict, from blood-soaked skirmishes and destroyed haciendas to the massacre of Chinese market gardeners in Torreón.

Alongside political observation, O'Shaughnessy captures the rich cultural fabric of Mexico—visiting ancient cathedrals, the shrine of Guadalupe, historic palaces, and the engineering marvels at Necaxa. However, as 1912 progresses, growing anti-American sentiment, political satire, and escalating guerrilla warfare make the diplomatic position increasingly precarious. By October 1912, as her husband's official assignment concludes, O'Shaughnessy departs Mexico from the port of Vera Cruz. Looking back from the deck of her departing ship, she reflects with deep affection and heavy melancholy on a nation bound for even greater bloodshed.

How It Unfolds

The voyage to Vera Cruz O'Shaughnessy arrives in the tropics by sea, taking in exotic shipboard companions, Mayan stevedores, and the intense heat of Vera Cruz before making the steep rail journey up to Mexico City.

Establishing the embassy routine Settling into the rickety house on Calle Humboldt, she adjusts to the high altitude, domestic quirks, microbe scares, and a full calendar of diplomatic calls and dinners.

The fall of the dictatorship As revolutionary forces advance, Porfirio Díaz resigns his long presidency, handing temporary power to Francisco León de la Barra before sailing away to exile in Europe.

Madero's triumphant entry Francisco Madero enters Mexico City amidst three days of intense public adoration, heralded as an apostle of equality, while O'Shaughnessy attends his reception at Chapultepec Castle.

Rising insurrections The honeymoon period fades quickly as Zapata raises rebellion in Morelos and General Huerta is sent to fight him, revealing the deep ideological fractures in the revolution.

Elections and transfer of power De la Barra calmly surrenders his office after reading his final report, allowing Madero to take the formal presidential oath amidst growing political instability and ruthless press satire.

Escalating conflict and departure With rebel forces raiding haciendas, foreign relations growing tense, and international warnings issuing from Washington, O'Shaughnessy finishes her term and sails away from Vera Cruz, reflecting on Mexico's uncertain destiny.

The People

• Edith O'Shaughnessy: The author and diplomat's wife. She seeks to understand Mexico beyond superficial surface impressions, recording every detail of politics, nature, and culture with empathetic curiosity and sharp intellectual insight.
• Nelson O'Shaughnessy ("N."): Edith's husband, an American diplomat stationed in Mexico City. He works continuously through political transitions, managing official duties, golf outings, and delicate international communications as the country descends into conflict.
• Francisco Madero: The leader of the revolutionary movement who becomes President of Mexico. He wants to bring democracy, equality, and social reform through spiritual idealist vision, but struggles to control the chaotic political factions and violent regional rebellions that his revolution unleashes.
• Francisco León de la Barra: The interim President of Mexico following Díaz's resignation. A cultured statesman, he wants to maintain law, order, and international dignity during the transition, earning O'Shaughnessy's respect for his calm, selfless relinquish of power.
• General Victoriano Huerta: A broad-shouldered, sharp-eyed Indian general sent to put down southern rebellions. He seeks military control and order through ruthless efficiency, standing out as an ominous, powerful figure in the shifting political landscape.

In Its Own Voice

"It makes me sad to think that, after a century of blood, all is still before the Mexican people, who have left the seemingly solid land of the dictatorship and are headed straight for the mirage of an impossible equality."

Reflecting on the fall of Porfirio Díaz's long rule and the rise of Madero's revolution.

"History is so evident here and so in relief--I have never lived in a place where the past follows and arrests one as here, though I doubt if Madame Madero, trying to pierce the heavy curtain of the future, gave it a thought this morning."

Contemplating Mexico City's ancient Aztec and Spanish layers while walking near the historic Plaza of Tlaltelolco.

"In the tropics the white man is king, be he Yankee, Spaniard, or Northman, and it is part of the lure."

Observing life from a train window during a stop at a station in the blazing southern lowlands.

What It's Really About

Underneath its daily record of social gatherings and diplomatic gossip, Diplomatic Days explores the collision between ancient traditions and modern democratic ideals. The book questions whether a nation shaped by centuries of authoritarian rule, deep class divisions, and violent conquest can seamlessly transition to constitutional democracy overnight. O'Shaughnessy contrasts the romanticized, high-minded promises of political reformers with the harsh, bloody realities of human nature and regional warfare. It is a poignant meditation on the weight of history, examining how past subjugation continuously haunts present struggles for progress and stability.

Why Read It Today

Diplomatic Days offers an invaluable, front-row seat to the opening act of the Mexican Revolution. Readers who enjoy literary travelogues, political history, and classic memoirs will appreciate O'Shaughnessy's observant eye, crisp prose, and vivid description. Her writing breathes life into a bygone world, painting brilliant pictures of Mexico's volcanic landscapes, centuries-old architecture, and vibrant daily markets.

To enjoy the book, one must navigate certain era-specific attitudes. As a member of the diplomatic elite writing in 1911, O'Shaughnessy occasionally expresses condescending colonial viewpoints regarding indigenous populations and tropical labor, along with a somewhat detached stance toward foreign exploitation. Yet, her fundamental empathy, sharp political instinct, and genuine reverence for Mexico's beauty shine through on every page. Reading her letters leaves a lasting impression of a complex country caught in a fateful, dramatic transformation.

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