Terry Rugeley is Professor of Mexican and Latin American History at the University of Oklahoma. He has produced numerous scholarly monographs, translations, and edited collections on the history and culture of southeast Mesoamerica.

"This is a major new work on nineteenth-century Mexico that contributes to our understanding of popular religion, the nature of political conservatism, and the nature of local politics... It represents the most innovative and creative scholarship now being undertaken in Mexican history ... and will be widely used in classes and discussed by scholars." William H. Beezley, Professor of History, University of Arizona

This is a major new work on nineteenth-century Mexico that contributes to our understanding of popular religion, the nature of political conservatism, and the nature of local politics.... It represents the most innovative and creative scholarship now being undertaken in Mexican history...and will be widely used in classes and discussed by scholars. (William H. Beezley, Professor of History, University of Arizona)