Idols Behind Altars was Anita Brenner first book. It was about that arts and culture of Mexico. In the Introduction to the book Brenner wrote of the historical significance of the Mexican Revolution and what it was meant to accomplish. She wrote of the treachery of the ruling class and of the humble beginnings of the revolution. She wrote that, 

But the high-voltage current that blew up the works was the brutal and insolent disparity between money and position granted the native technician or professional man -- the man of brains and cultivation -- vis-a-vis his foreign counterpart. This devaluation on the basis of, not exactly color, not exactly race, but the same thing really, cooked and rankled and set working the consciousness of skilled men thoroughly aware of their own capacities. They and people like them were among the most effective organizers of 1910-24. (into. 2 idols) 

This is how Anita Brenner described the people that started the revolution. She believed that the Revolution was bound to happen because of the way the land owners and politicians were running the government. One thing to note is that the land owners were running the government before the revolution. Brenner wrote in The Wind that swept Mexico that if matters of foreign land owners and Mexicans were taken to court it was a unwritten rule that the foreign land owners would win. Brenner did not write that much about the Mexican Revolution in Idols Behind Altars, it was a book about the arts in Mexico and the influence and powers that it had. She called this time of the arts in Mexico the Mexican Renaissance. Brenner wrote of famous artist like David Siqueiros, Jose Orozco, Diego Rivera, Francisco Goitia, and Jean Charlot in individual sections. The other half of the book is about lesser known artist to local potters. There are several reason why this book is so important to Mexico and to Brenner. This is Anita Brenner's first published book. Idols Behind Altars is one of the first permanent records about the arts in Mexico that, also gained a reputation for being complete about the arts in Mexico. Anita saw the arts as a way to communicate, and as a recorded history of the country is was in.  

Anita Brenner's second book is The Wind That Swept Mexico. It was published in 1943. The book is a wonderful history of the Mexican Revolution. It is 100 pages of text and over 200 photographs. It was designed as almost a warning to the United States that had just become involved with World War 2. During this time 500 Jewish people were denied immigration into Mexico, which outrage Anita. She loved Mexico and was Jewish and she has spent so many of her journalism years writing about how Mexico was also a land of opportunity. It was during the time that Anita wrote The Wind That Swept Mexico that her career was in a troubled time. Many of her publishers during this time thought that her work was not serious enough and she was still painting to pretty of a picture. Also many of her publishers said that American public was no longer interested in Mexico. Anita reaction to this was a statement. "We are not safe in the United States, now (1943) and henceforth, without taking Mexico into account; nor is Mexico safe disregarding us. This is something that Mexicans have long known, with dread, but few Americans have had to look at"(208). Anita Brenner had a lot of very strong opinions about the Mexican government before the Revolution. Brenner thought the Mexican Government before the Revolution was corrupt, and very biased. She based those opinions for several different reasons. Brenner wrote that foreign landowner were given every right in Mexico. They had large cheap labor forces, many of them did not have to pay taxes, and all court cases were settled in their favor. She wrote of the power of several men. A example is William Randolf Hearst, he owned an enormous amount land in Mexico. Before and during the Mexican Revolution Hearst did everything to retain his power in Mexico. He sent many reporters to Mexico to write "Mexico bashing" articles. He forged documents and distorted information, and even convinced congress to send U.S. Troops to Mexico. Hearst wanted to retain the ownership of his land and the power he wielded over Mexican Government. The book was important because it has shown readers a different way to look at the reasons for the revolution. I believe Brenner was the first person to write of the corruption and bad things that happened in Mexico along with the good. The benefits of this is we are all given an opportunity to learn more about what was happening in Mexico and not just propaganda. 

Anita Brenner was a educated, independent woman, whose life was shape by a love for the arts, and for Mexico. Her articles and books are a very important historical writings about Mexico. The Mexican Revolution I believe is what was the force that started Anita Brenner on her path to teach people about Mexico and it's history. 

Brenner, Anita.  Idols Behind Altars.  Boston: Beacon Press. 1929 

Brenner, Anita.  The Wind that Swept Mexico.  Austin: University of Texas Press. 1943 

Glusker, Susannah.  Anita Brenner.  Austin: University of Texas Press. 1998