MEXICAN STORIES:Subcomandante Marcos
Subcomandante Marcos
Zapatista Stories
translated by Dinah Livingstone.
Prose. 2001. 192 pages. ISBN 0904872 36 X. £8.95.
Subcomandante Marcos, the Zapatista leader, is one of Mexico's most brilliant contemporary writers. His work, usually posted on the internet, includes communiqués and a host of stories, that are colloquial and full of allusions; humorous and passionate; witty and tender. This translation into English (of a London kind) is colloquial too. It has tried to catch the author's sprightly speaking voice, avoiding over-reverent literalism and glum 'strugglese'. As Marcos says, 'We need to laugh a lot to create a new world, because if we don't, our new world will turn out square and it won't go round.'
Zapatista Stories is in three parts. First, stories of the beetle knight errant, Don Durito de la Lacandona, the Zapatista Don Quixote and a Mexican cousin of the bossy caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland. Second comes old Antonio, Marcos's other mentor, with stories about the jolly, 'quarrelsome but wise' old Mayan gods. Lastly, there are the real lives of Zapatista children in the 'war against oblivion', ending with the long piece, The Devils of the New Century, that appeared in February 2001, just before the Zapatistas set out on their great march to Mexico City.
'This manages to be both an utterly charming book, and to convey a serious message... Definitely a great volume for anyone seeking an accessible introduction to Zapatista history and ideas -- including kids. Or equally for those already knowledgeable on Zapatismo and looking for a fresh look at the subject.' - Peace News
'A book that everyone who is not asleep will want to read and re-read. It might even wake a few of us up.' Ethical Record
Click for another extract from Part 3: 'Zapatista Children'
Zapatista Stories
translated by Dinah Livingstone.
Prose. 2001. 192 pages. ISBN 0904872 36 X. £8.95.
Subcomandante Marcos, the Zapatista leader, is one of Mexico's most brilliant contemporary writers. His work, usually posted on the internet, includes communiqués and a host of stories, that are colloquial and full of allusions; humorous and passionate; witty and tender. This translation into English (of a London kind) is colloquial too. It has tried to catch the author's sprightly speaking voice, avoiding over-reverent literalism and glum 'strugglese'. As Marcos says, 'We need to laugh a lot to create a new world, because if we don't, our new world will turn out square and it won't go round.'
Zapatista Stories is in three parts. First, stories of the beetle knight errant, Don Durito de la Lacandona, the Zapatista Don Quixote and a Mexican cousin of the bossy caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland. Second comes old Antonio, Marcos's other mentor, with stories about the jolly, 'quarrelsome but wise' old Mayan gods. Lastly, there are the real lives of Zapatista children in the 'war against oblivion', ending with the long piece, The Devils of the New Century, that appeared in February 2001, just before the Zapatistas set out on their great march to Mexico City.
'This manages to be both an utterly charming book, and to convey a serious message... Definitely a great volume for anyone seeking an accessible introduction to Zapatista history and ideas -- including kids. Or equally for those already knowledgeable on Zapatismo and looking for a fresh look at the subject.' - Peace News
'A book that everyone who is not asleep will want to read and re-read. It might even wake a few of us up.' Ethical Record
Click for another extract from Part 3: 'Zapatista Children'
posted by Alice at
Monday, November 13, 2006
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home