"Celebrating the city’s wonders without shying away from the darker periods of its history, Mexico City is a concise and often surprising companion to this long-suffering, infuriating, and endlessly captivating place. . . . Sweeping through so many centuries in a relatively short space is no mean feat, but Caistor avoids monotony or information overload by peppering his account with vivid multi-sensory descriptions. . . . The illustrations contribute to his kaleidoscopic, magpie-like way of telling the city’s story."

Times Literary Supplement

"Caistor gets to the root of what makes Mexico, both City and country, so enthralling."

Catholic Herald

“It is not easy to understand Mexico City. Even its inhabitants are often lost in the enigmas of its history and its streets. The Mexicans themselves need translators to guide them through the labyrinths of this gigantic city. Caistor in this wonderful book proves to be a great decoder of the mysteries of the ancient Tenochtitlan, now a fascinating postmodern urban monster. Mexico: Cradle of Empires is the best companion for the curious traveler who wants to go beyond the myths and become immersed in its fascinating reality.”

Roger Bartra, author of “The Cage of Melancholy: Identity and Metamorphosis in the Mexican Character”