Popol Vuh: A Sacred Book of the Maya - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0888999216 ISBN 13: 9780888999214

Publisher: Groundwood Books, 2009

Synopsis

The Mayans have long fascinated modern readers with their complex written language, sophisticated mathematics, and advanced astronomy. In Guatemala in 1558, a young Mayan K’iche’ man transcribed what he called a sacred book that we can no longer see.” This was the Popul Vuh, the Mayans' written account of the creation of the universe, the gods and demi-gods who occupied that universe, and the story of how man was created by them. Furthermore, it traced, generation by generation, the lineage of the Mayan lords down to their imprisonment and torture by the Spanish invaders. Considered the Mayan bible, the Popol Vuh appears here in an authoritative, gorgeously illustrated version by noted Maya anthropologist Victor Montejo, who has captured all the drama and excitement of one of the world’s great creation stories.

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.

Luis Garay is a celebrated Nicaraguan illustrator who spent six months in Guatemala doing research for the illustrations in this book. He has also illustrated Jade and Iron, A Handful of Seeds, Cousins / Primas and Alfredito Flies Home / Alfredito regresa volando a su casa. One of the best young Latin American illustrators working today, Luis Garay now lives in Mexico.

David Unger, originally from Guatemala, is a well-known translator, poet and novelist who lives in New York City.

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: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0888999216
• ISBN 13: 9780888999214
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 88
• Illustrator: Garay Luis