A Land of Books: Dreams of Young Mexihcah Word Painters

Duncan Tonatiuh's book A Land of Books highlights the significance of Aztec manuscripts and culture, showing how the Aztecs and their neighbors in the Valley of Mexico painted books and records long before Columbus arrived. The book pays tribute to Mesoamerican ingenuity and celebrates the universal power of the written word.

Format: Hardback
Length: 48 pages
Publication date: 22 December 2022
Publisher: Abrams

Our world, my dear brother, is a vast tapestry woven with the threads of literature. In the depths of the jungles where the jaguar roams, the Mayas craft their books. In the towering peaks where the cloud people dwell, the Mixtecs also forge their literary treasures. And we, the Mexica, the mighty Aztec empire, who reside in the valley of the volcanoes, join in this noble pursuit. A young Aztec girl, with a twinkle in her eye, shares with her brother the enchanting process of creating beautiful painted manuscripts, known as codices. She explains how paper is derived from the local flora, and how the long sheets are meticulously folded into books. Together, they witness their parents and others skillfully painting the codices, depicting the story of their people's way of life, chronicling their history, scientific advancements, tributes, and sacred rituals. Through the captivating prose and beloved illustration style inspired by the pre-Columbian codices, Duncan Tonatiuh weaves a tale that challenges the historical narrative imposed by European colonizers. He reveals that the Aztec and their neighbors in the Valley of Mexico were not recipients of "civilization" and knowledge from the Europeans but were, in fact, the creators and custodians of written books and records long before the arrival of Columbus. This remarkable tradition continued among their Nahua-speaking descendants for generations after the Spanish Conquest. In A Land of Books, Duncan Tonatiuh pays homage to the ingenuity of Mesoamerica and celebrates the universal power of the written word. This captivating work serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of the Aztec and their neighbors, reminding us of the profound impact of storytelling and the preservation of cultural heritage.

Weight: 542g
Dimension: 263 x 262 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781419749421