I, Rigoberta Menchú: An Indian Woman in Guatemala [B1182]

1990 PB printing of the 1984 original, in nice clean condition. A 1992 Nobel Peace Prize winner reflects on poverty, injustice, and the struggles of Mayan communities in Guatemala, offering "a fascinating and moving description of the culture of an entire people" (The Times). Now a global bestseller, the remarkable life of Rigoberta Menchú, a Guatemalan peasant woman, reflects on the experiences common to many Indian communities in Latin America. Menchú suffered gross injustice and hardship in her early life: her brother, father and mother were murdered by the Guatemalan military. She learned Spanish and turned to catechistic work as an expression of political revolt as well as religious commitment. Menchú vividly conveys the traditional beliefs of her community and her personal response to feminist and socialist ideas. Above all, these pages are illuminated by the enduring courage and passionate sense of justice of an extraordinary woman.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "It's incredibly powerful and inspirational, all Rigoberta did to fight for indigenous rights and social justice in Guatemala. A difficult read but a story that absolutely needs to be heard."; "What a beautiful oral history of Rigoberta's life and struggle for justice and a historical account of her people. The pain and suffering depicted is real and raw and the relentless fight for liberation is inspiring to read about. I loved learning more about Mayan culture through this book and the complicated history and influences of the Spanish, Catholic Church, and civil war in Guatemala."; "While this book has been criticized for certain inaccuracies, I still found it worth the read. Even if the stories weren't all accurate to Menchu's life, other people were certainly victims of the specific atrocities she described. Menchu's love for her community and culture was very well communicated. I loved the nonlinear timeline because it felt like a conversation, getting progressively more specific from general thoughts about her community and customs to her own memories."