author
Madame (Frances Erskine Inglis) Calderón de la Barca
d. 1882
A sharp-eyed 19th-century travel writer, diplomat's wife, and observer of Mexico at a turning point in its history. Her best-known book, Life in Mexico, remains valued for its vivid letters, social detail, and outsider's perspective on daily life and politics.
1 Audiobook
Life in Mexico
by Madame (Frances Erskine Inglis) Calderón de la Barca
About the author
Born in Edinburgh in 1804, Frances Erskine Inglis later became widely known as Madame Calderón de la Barca, or Fanny Calderón de la Barca. After moving to the United States with her family, she married the Spanish diplomat Ángel Calderón de la Barca and traveled with him during his postings.
She is best remembered for Life in Mexico (1843), drawn from letters she wrote while living in Mexico when her husband served as Spain's first minister there after independence. The book made her reputation as a travel writer and has long been regarded as an important 19th-century account of Mexican society, politics, landscapes, and everyday customs.
Later in life she lived in Spain, where she was connected to court circles, and she died in Madrid in 1882. Her work still stands out for its lively storytelling, curiosity, and the rare viewpoint it offers on transatlantic life in the 1800s.