Malinche's Conquest by Anna Lanyon

Malinche's Conquest by Anna Lanyon

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Summary

A quest into Mexico's past to uncover the story of Malinche, the legendary Amerindian woman. Lover and translator of Cortes, slave and hostage of war, Malinche's wit and resilience bought her survival through the Spanish Conquest.

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Malinche's Conquest by Anna Lanyon

'Lanyon has spent more than a decade pursing this elusive woman, Malinche---in archives, in churches, in forgotten corners of Mexico. Lanyon has read her sources sensitively, and distils their magic with grace. The story of her quest is mesmerising, and its telling to be relished, with the prose simple, spare, but lifting easily into poetry. Anyone who loves Mexico, old tales or fine prose should read this book.'Inga Clendinnen, author of The AztecsMalinche was the Amerindian woman who translated for Hernan Cortes---from her lips came the words that triggered the downfall of the great Aztec Emperor Moctezuma in the Spanish Conquest in 1521. In Mexico Malinche's name is synonymous with traitor, yet folklore and legend still celebrate her mystique. Was Malinche a betrayer? Or do our histories construct the heroes and villains we need? Anna Lanyon journeys across Mexico and into the prodigious past of its original peoples, to excavate the mythologies of this extraordinary woman's life. Malinche: abandoned to strangers as a slave when just a girl; taken by Cortes to become interpreter, concubine, witness to his campaigns, mother to his son, yet married off to another. Malinche: whose gift for language, intelligence and courage won her survival through unimaginably precarious times. Though Malinche's words changed history, her own story remained untold---yet its echoes continue to haunt Hispanic culture.
"Lanyon has spent more than a decade pursing this elusive woman, Malinche-in archives, in churches, in forgotten corners of MexicoLanyon has read her sources sensitively, and distils their magic with grace. The story of her quest is mesmerising, and its telling to be relished, with the prose simple, spare, but lifting easily into poetry. Anyone who loves Mexico, old tales or fine prose should read this book. Inga Clendinnen, author of The Aztecs
Anna Lanyon studied Spanish, Portuguese and History at La Trobe University in Melbourne. She travelled widely before settling with her family on the southern coast of Victoria, near Portland. She teaches and translates Spanish, and this book is, in part, a consequence of her enduring passion for languages and history. She works in Portland for La Trobe University's Centre for the Study of Mothers' and Children's Health, and continues to write whenever she can.
SKU Unavailable
ISBN 13 9781864487800
ISBN 10 1864487801
Title Malinche's Conquest
Author Anna Lanyon
Condition Unavailable
Binding Type Paperback
Publisher Allen & Unwin
Year published 1999-08-01
Number of pages 256
Prizes Winner of NSW Premier's History Awards 2000 (Australia), Winner of ISAA Prize 2001 (Australia)
Cover note Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.