“I’m still keeping secret what I think no-one should know. Not even anthropologists or intellectuals, no matter how many books they have, can found out all our secrets.” Indian society in Guatemala is filled with secrets. How many and what they are *about*, much less *are* is merely alluded to by Rigaberta as she recounts her life story and struggles. The narrative reads quite literally as if Rigaberta were telling her story directly to the reader. In so doing, she really tells us three stories: 1) Indian community life cycles, 2) Rigaberta’s life and work and 3) the history of the Guatemalan peasant revolution in the 60s-80s.

At the time of the telling, Rigaberta had only been speaking Spanish for three years, and deliberately learned it to better unite separate Indian communities with distinct languages and dialects against her and their common enemies: the Guatemalan government and rich finca landlords, who readily practiced discrimination, hostility, rape, land takeovers, massacres, and torture. She was never trained to read or write.

I expect that this (effective) primary source will be excellent fodder for many secondary sources that may make it more digestible. I recognize the need for Rigaberta’s voice to come through, but perhaps it could help broaden her audience by having a professional writer or biographer assist with smoothing the organization and clarity and such.

The raw power and emotion evident by what Rigoberta has to say makes this an important resource in bringing these issues to the international community. Though many secrets are still kept, this book is rich for curiosity seekers, social scientists, folks interested in labor and peasant movements, Latin American Indians, etc. ( )

This is the true story of Rigoberta Menchu, a native from Guatemala, born into poverty and slave-like conditions, just like the rest of her people. This book describes the living conditions of the indigenous people of Guatemala, their struggle to better those conditions, the obstacles they face (kidnappings, murders, torture). It is also the story of Rigoberta Menchu and her family, most of which is murdered in the struggle for equality. An inspiring and eye-opening story. ( )

Menchú, Rigoberta/Quiché women > Biography/Women revolutionaries > Guatemala > Biography

Questions about its historical credibility aside - the concept "her family" can be used verrrrrry loosely - Menchu's narrative of the plight of the Quiche people in Guatemala is the focus of this volume, set amid her people's continued persecution at the hands of the Guatemalan government. ( )

FROM THE PUBLISHER
Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchu powerfully describes the social and political struggles of her Guatemalan Indian community.