Here is one of the most important surviving works of pre-Columbian civilization, Rabinal Achi , a Mayan drama set a century before the arrival of the Spanish, produced by the translator of the best selling Popol Vuh . The first direct translation into English from Quich??? Maya, based on the original text, Rabinal Achi is the story of city-states, war, and nobility, of diplomacy, mysticism, and psychic journeys. Cawek of the Forest People has been captured by Man of Rabinal, who serves a ruler named Lord Five Thunder. ...
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Here is one of the most important surviving works of pre-Columbian civilization, Rabinal Achi , a Mayan drama set a century before the arrival of the Spanish, produced by the translator of the best selling Popol Vuh . The first direct translation into English from Quich??? Maya, based on the original text, Rabinal Achi is the story of city-states, war, and nobility, of diplomacy, mysticism, and psychic journeys. Cawek of the Forest People has been captured by Man of Rabinal, who serves a ruler named Lord Five Thunder. Cawek is a renegade, a warrior who has inflicted much suffering on Rabinal. Yet he is also the son of the lord of the allied city of Quich???--a noble who once fought alongside Man of Rabinal. The drama presents the confrontation between the two during the trial of Cawek, who defies his captors and proudly accepts death by beheading. Dennis Tedlock's translation is clear and vivid; more than that, it is rooted in an understanding of how the play is actually performed. Despite being banned for centuries by Spanish authorities, it survived in actual practice, and is still performed in the town of Rabinal today. Tedlock's photographs and diagrams accompany the text, capturing nuances not apparent in the dialogue alone. He also provides an introduction and commentary that explain the historical events compressed into the play, the Spanish influence on the Mayan dramatic tradition, and the cultural and religious world preserved in this remarkable play. Rabinal Achi ranks as a classic of Mayan literature--and a rare window on a world that had yet to be invaded by Europeans. Dennis Tedlock brings this drama to life in all its richness.
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Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
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Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
This is a remarkable book for at least three reasons:
1. It is one of the very few authentic surviving dramas revealing life among the Maya before the Spanish conquest.
2. This edition features a new translation directly from the Mayan language by an award-winning translator whose attention to accuracy has corrected errors and misrepresentations introduced in earlier translations.
3. Dennis Tedlock, the editor and translator, has placed the drama in the context of the growing body of archeological and anthropological research that explains much about Mayan life both before and after the conquest.
This book is essential reading for scholars and lay people interested in a deeper appreciation of one of the world's great civilizations.