Stavans:Popol Vuh

"Popol Vuh: A Retelling" by Ilan Stavans is an impressive and urgent prose retelling of the Maya creation myth. This reinterpretation is beautifully illustrated by the talented Salvadoran folk artist Gabriela Larios and introduced by the renowned author and environmentalist Homero Aridjis. The "Popol Vuh" is the archetypal creation story of Latin America, originating from the oral tradition of the Maya and transcribed in the 16th century by members of the K'iche' nobility in Guatemala. This narrative offers a deep insight into the way of life of the Maya before the destruction brought by colonization, including their ethics, views on death and the afterlife, as well as their devotion to nature. The story describes the creation of the world through a series of experiments involving wooden figures, demigods, and ultimately humans, addressing the challenges faced by the Maya, including the legend of a king who became a spirit to guide his people in times of need.