Popol Vuh: A Sacred Book of the Maya - Hardcover

Montejo, Victor

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 088899334X ISBN 13: 9780888993342

Publisher: Groundwood Books, 1999

Synopsis

One of the few Maya documents to survive the Spanish conquest, the Popol Vuh describes the creation of the Maya universe and of humans. It tells the tale of the Hero Twins, who defeated the gods of the underworld in a ball game, and details the legendary history of the Quiche Maya rulers until their imprisonment and torture by the Spanish. Equivalent to the Bible and the Greek and Roman mythologies, the Popol Vuh is the essential text of Mayan culture. Here, vivid images and captivating text will fascinate children.

About this title

About the Author:

Victor Montejo is a distinguished Zapotec Maya / Guatemalan anthropologist, author and professor in the Department of Native American Studies at the University of California at Davis who, after a very long period in exile, returned for a time to Guatemala to work for indigenous rights. He has also written White Flower: A Maya Princess / Blanca Flor: una princesa Maya for Groundwood. He lives in Davis, California.

From Library Journal:

Grade 5-8-Wrathful and kindhearted gods, giants, mortals, jaguars, and colorful birds are some of the characters and creatures that inhabit this creation story and genealogy recorded in the K'iche' (or Quich?) language in 1558 and discovered in 1701 by a Spanish priest. Children will enjoy this accessible retelling of a story that has largely been unavailable in English. Vivid characterizations, tales of revenge and forbidden fruit, tests of wit and strength, and explanations of why deer have short tails and monkeys live in trees are all here. Full- and double-page paintings rich in color and detail illustrate the volume. A beautifully designed book to be savored on its own or as a source for cultural or comparative studies.
Daryl Grabarek, School Library Journal
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Groundwood Books
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 088899334X
• ISBN 13: 9780888993342
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 88
• Illustrator: Garay Luis