Testimony: Death of a Guatemalan Village [Paperback]

Victor Montejo (Author), Victor Perera (Translator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0915306654 | ISBN-13: 978-0915306657 | Publication Date: July 1, 1995 | Edition: 1st

TESTIMONY: DEATH OF A GUATEMALAN VILLAGE is an eyewitness account by a Guatemalan primary school teacher detailing one instance of violent conflict between the indigenous Maya people and the army. An accidental clash between the village's "civil patrol" and a Guatemalan army troop leads to the execution or imprisonment of many villagers. Written in clear, direct prose, this account reads like an adventure story while conveying an historical reality.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Victor Montejo writes vividly, with a translator of distinction, about another Latin American reality." --The Guardian

"Montejo has first-hand involvement with the violence that Didion both mystifies and, in a morbid way, romanticizes. He conveys a rare sense of the lived reality in Central America, in a clear storytelling voice that makes it chillingly human."
--San Francisco Sun

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Spanish --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 113 pages
• Publisher: Curbstone Books; 1st edition (July 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0915306654
• ISBN-13: 978-0915306657
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #202,026 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #23 in Books > History > Americas > Central America > Guatemala
  • #81 in Books > History > Ancient > Mayan

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Victor endures unbearable pain yet maintains hope., November 27, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Sacramento, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Testimony: Death of a Guatemalan Village (Paperback)

A poignant message to those who will see. Using his own words (translated from his Mayan dialect), Victor Montejo paints a picture of endurance, pain, and hopelessness for the Mayans of his homeland--Guatemala. His ability to endure and survive the abuses of the Kaibiles (Mayan soldiers hell bent on destruction and murder) allows a ray of hope to pierce the seeming hopelessness. Separated from his family, friends, and students, Victor maintains a Christian ethic--he does not believe in murder. In fact, he faces his oppressors with dignity and responds with kindness even when it seems all is lost. To discover the outcome of Victor's painful trials--you must read this suspense-filled, non-fiction book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fast, powerful read, Testimony is a superior work!, December 7, 1998

By 

Terence Carter ([e-mail]) (Cambridge, Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Testimony: Death of a Guatemalan Village (Paperback)

Although it is a fast, exciting read, Montejo's Testimony is an extremely powerful, raw book. It realistically depicts the genocide occurring in Guatemala between 1980-82. He is brutally graphic, but touches one in such a manner that one is compelled to pursue the subject. This personal, heart-wrenching story is a moving experience for anyone, especially those interested in Guatemala and Central America.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars REVIEW QUOTES, September 5, 2001

By 

Curbstone Press, Jantje Tielken, Editorial As... - See all my reviews

This review is from: Testimony: Death of a Guatemalan Village (Paperback)

TESTIMONY: DEATH OF A GUATEMALAN VILLAGE is an eyewitness account by a Guatemalan primary school teacher detailing one instance of violent conflict between the indigenous Maya people and the army. An accidental clash between the village's "civil patrol" and a Guatemalan army troop leads to the execution or imprisonment of many villagers. Written in clear, direct prose, this account reads like an adventure story while conveying an historical reality.

"Victor Montejo writes vividly, with a translator of distinction, about another Latin American reality." --The Guardian

"Montejo has first-hand involvement with the violence that Didion both mystifies and, in a morbid way, romanticizes. He conveys a rare sense of the lived reality in Central America, in a clear storytelling voice that makes it chillingly human."
--San Francisco Sun