The Education of Hector Villa

Héctor Villa, a direct descendant of Pancho Villa, and his family have lived in the town of Belen, New Mexico, on the Rio Grande since they were guided across the international border 20 years ago by coyotes. He has his own business as a computer repairman and considers himself a patriotic American and a proud supporter of President George W. Bush. Héctor believes in American values and the Republi- can Party, and he can't understand why everyone doesn't, including his best friend, Jesus "Eddie" Juarez. He still thinks of America as the Promised Land, but things begin to go wrong in his life, especially after he is drafted to run as the GOP candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from his district, begin- ning a series of misadventures that perplex and trouble him and his wife, AveMaría. The result is a kind of crisis of faith from which Héctor emerges as a sadder but wiser man. The Education of Héctor Villa, by Chilton Williamson, is a novel on a highly contemporary subject, a work that combines satire and comedy with deep sympathy and pathos.