Puebla was the second city of colonial Mexico, after the capital itself. In her book, Frances Ramos studies its political constellation as shaped by the public ceremonies of the city’s cabildo, or ruling council. In eight chapters, not including the introduction and conclusion, she describes the different aspects of the cabildo’s eighteenth-century poblano official public appearances, displays of power, and rituals. She bases her book on city accounts, cabildo minutes, royal visita reports, and lawsuits before the Council of the Indies.

She starts with a sketch of Puebla and its position in the colony, especially the relationship of its cabildo with the king and his representatives, the viceroys. She goes on to attend to how the city celebrated (and how much it spent on) the birth and death of Spain’s kings and the more frequent arrival of the viceroys. The reception of a viceroy was the most costly event in...

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