Told by Ignacio Bizarro Ujpan, an influential Tzutuhil elder, translated and edited by anthropologist James D Sexton, this collection of thirty-three ancient and contemporary folktales shows how Maya beliefs and practices mix elements of traditional and Hispanic cultures. Ancestors and gods of nature as well as Catholic saints are consulted in sacred caves. The Christian God has not eclipsed the power of the pre-Columbian deities - heaven (grandfather) and heart of earth (grandmother) - who according to legend created the black, white, and Mayan peoples. The stories also detail the region's diverse plant and animal life, illustrate proverbs, and emphasize the power of luck and fate.
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Editorial Reviews
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(Exceptional)Coauthors James D. Sexton, Northern Arizona University anthropologist, and Ignacio Bizarro Ujpan, Guatemala, retell contemporary and age-old stories of magic and transformation among the lake people. -- Today's Books, 1999
...lively and full of humor, paradox, moral lessons, and patterns of Mayan daily life...Sexton's translation are excellent... -- Robert M. Carmack, American Anthropologist, June 2000
...lively and full of humor, paradox, moral lessons, and patterns of Mayan daily life...Sexton's translation are excellent... -- Robert M. Carmack, American Anthropologist, June 2000
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mayan self revelations,
By Diane Haines (St. Paul, MN) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Heart of Heaven, Heart of Earth and Other Mayan Folktales (Paperback)
I selected this book as one to be used in a high school class where we were studying Guatemala and the Mayan Indians. The thirty-three folktales included in the book are a compilation of folklore from the Lake Atitlan area in the highlands of Guatemala. Each student retold a folktale in their own words and reported what they learned about the Mayan culture as a result of that folktale. This book enabled them to get a clearer picture of the Mayan culture than more factual texts. The folktales comprise stories told around Lake Atitlan, some of which are ancient Mayan tales, some more recent and some that reveal the mix of Mayan and ladino culture. Some of the tales reveal beliefs of the people, some the meaning of life, and some present a world view picture. There are tales of creation,of good and evil, of people turning into animals. Sexton presents a helpful introduction to the folktales, the majority of which were written by a local Mayan or told to him by the indigenous people in the area. The notes at the end of the book are a great addition to increasing understanding of the tale and of the person who told it. The notes also explain various aspects of the culture that might be unclear through only reading the folktales. Finally, the glossary at the end is helpful in capturing a clearer sense of the Spanish words peppered throughout.
5.0 out of 5 stars
James Sexton Gives Us Superb FolkTales,
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This review is from: Heart of Heaven, Heart of Earth and Other Mayan Folktales (Paperback)
Heart of Heaven, Heart of Earth is a wonderful collection of folktales from the Maya Indians of Central America. Sexton has gathered these couple of dozen tales over the course of several decades as an anthropologist and has edited and polished them to a high shine for your reading pleasure. There isn't a clunker among these highly imaginative tales, which tell of intelligent animals, dangerous supernaturals, and everyday people trying to get by. With a little editing these stories are suitable for children's bedtime material, and if you're into the Maya Indians they're an invaluable resource on the thinking of the modern Maya Indians, from tales they themselves tell in their culture today. There are a number of collections of Mayan folk tales in print these days; of these, this one I think is the best. Its style is smooth and traditional, its stories have been selected for originality and authenticity and to give a broad view of Mayan culture, and it is downright fun to read. Many aspects of Mayan life are explored and cross-referenced herein. It is a real value for its money and will give you many hours of enjoyment upon reading and re-reading, which I do every couple of years. Enjoy!
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
In the spring of 1970, when I was a graduate student at UCLA, Professor Clyde Woods, a tall, muscular ex-marine, marched into the classroom, pointed his finger directly at me, and asked, "Why aren't you going to Guatemala?" Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
jocote tree, rich compadres, dueño del mundo, santo mundo, colorín colorado, little tamales, charcoal vendor, gourd jar, enchanted hill, black god, enchanted place, rustic house Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Francisco Sojuel, Señor Adrián, San José, Ignacio Bizarro Ujpán, Holy Christ, Paruchi Abaj, San Pedro, King Turin, Heart of Heaven, San Marcos, Santa Cruz, Father Rogelio, Santiago Atitlán, Nima Tucur, Chico Sojuel, San Martin, Don Pedro de Alvarado, San Simón, Tzan Petey, Cristalín Hill, General Ubico, San Lucas Tolimán, Señor Pancho, Señora María New!
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
In the spring of 1970, when I was a graduate student at UCLA, Professor Clyde Woods, a tall, muscular ex-marine, marched into the classroom, pointed his finger directly at me, and asked, "Why aren't you going to Guatemala?" Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
jocote tree, rich compadres, dueño del mundo, santo mundo, colorín colorado, little tamales, charcoal vendor, gourd jar, enchanted hill, black god, enchanted place, rustic house Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Francisco Sojuel, Señor Adrián, San José, Ignacio Bizarro Ujpán, Holy Christ, Paruchi Abaj, San Pedro, King Turin, Heart of Heaven, San Marcos, Santa Cruz, Father Rogelio, Santiago Atitlán, Nima Tucur, Chico Sojuel, San Martin, Don Pedro de Alvarado, San Simón, Tzan Petey, Cristalín Hill, General Ubico, San Lucas Tolimán, Señor Pancho, Señora María New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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