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"A king, a warrior, and a poet, Nezahualcâoyotl was a revolutionary ahead of his time. Born in 1402, the ruler--whose name means 'hungry coyote' in the Uto-Aztecan language of Nahuatl--led the city-state of Texcoco through its age of enlightenment. His four-decade reign was among the most transformative and prosperous eras of the Aztec Empire. Today he is a hero in Mexico, seen as a mysterious, powerful, anti-colonial figure. Brimming with longing, this epic collection of songs and poems was composed by Nezahualcâoyotl with members of his illustrious court. Six centuries later, in a powerful translation by Ilan Stavans and with new illustrations by Cuauhtâemoc Wetzka, twenty-two poems bring to life a young warrior's journey from exile to historical legend. Anguished and unforgettable, Lamentations of Nezahualcâoyotl will thrill readers of Latin American literature for years to come."--
About the author
Nezahualcoyotl (1402-1472) was a Nahuatl poet, philosopher, urban planner, warrior, ruler, and one of the crucial historical figures who defined the Aztec Empire. His verses, only a handful of which survive, explore the most intimate aspects of his people. An icon of modern Mexico whose legacy remains the subject of intense debate, he died approximately fifty years before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, whose devastations he foresaw.
Summary
From award-winning author, editor, and translator Ilan Stavans, comes a one-of-kind translation of the timeless, poignant poetry of the legendary Aztec ruler, Nezahualcoyotl.
A king, a warrior, and a poet, Nezahualcoyotl was a revolutionary leader far ahead of his time. Born in 1402, Nezahualcoyotl—meaning ‘hungry coyote’ in the Uto-Aztecan language of Nahuatl—led the city-state of Texcoco through its “age of enlightenment.” He is remembered for having challenged long held beliefs, encouraged the development of modern ideas of education and morality, and cultivated critical alliances. His four decade reign is regarded as one of the most transformative and prosperous periods of the Aztec empire. Today, he is a legend in Mexico, seen as a mysterious, powerful, anticolonial figure.
This epic collection of songs and poems, full of grief and anguish, was originally written collectively by Nezahualcoyotl and members of his court in Nahuatl. Stunningly retold by renowned writer, editor, and critic Ilan Stavans, these seventeen powerful poems are now made available to English readers for the very first time. Lamentations of Nezahualcoyotl: Nahuatl Poems crafts a remarkable portrait of the life of the man who went from a young warrior in exile to one of the most important figures in Aztec history. Sorrowful and unforgettable, it is destined to become a classic.
