Flandrau was a young rich American with an individual sense of humor, and no prejudices except against Western uniformity. His travel book is more than a ramble among places; it is a journey among the Mexican people. His brother established a coffee plantation in Mexico in 1903, and Charles traveled there with his mother in 1904. The experiences gained from this visit, along with two other visits in subsequent winters, formed the basis for Viva Mexico! which he described as "one long, carelessly written but absorbing romance."