Customer Reviews

Heart of Heaven, Heart of Earth and Other Mayan Folktales

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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.

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!