Abstract
La Güera Rodríguez (1778-1850) is a fascinating Mexican woman who has become an icon of the nation's popular culture. She has been--erroneously--portrayed as a courtesan who seduced Simón Bolívar, Alexander von Humboldt, and Agustín de Iturbide; a major independence heroine; and a feminist who defied the conventions of her day. This book reconstructs her true life story and then shows when and why false facts and apocryphal stories appeared to create her legendary figure. It thus illuminates both the neglected social history of her day and the degree to which historical memory reflects ever-changing worldviews and concerns.