Pre-Columbian Bestiary: Fantastic Creatures of Indigenous Latin America

A Pre-Columbian Bestiary is an encyclopedic collaboration between Mexican American scholar Ilan Stavans and illustrator Eko that features forty-six religious, mythical, and imaginary creatures from the Nahua, Aztec, Maya, Tabasco, Inca, and other cultures of Latin America. It is based on indigenous religious texts and chronicles of the Spanish conquest and includes imagery from magic realist masters and aboriginal beasts from Jewish, Muslim, European, British, and other traditions.

Format: Hardback
Length: 116 pages
Publication date: 30 October 2020
Publisher: Pennsylvania State University Press

A Pre-Columbian Bestiary is a captivating encyclopedic collaboration between renowned Mexican American scholar Ilan Stavans and talented illustrator Eko. This remarkable work showcases lively and informative descriptions of forty-six religious, mythical, and imaginary creatures from various cultures across Latin America, including the Nahua, Aztec, Maya, Tabasco, Inca, Aymara, and more. These magnificent entities, reminiscent of creatures imagined by renowned authors such as Dante, Franz Kafka, C. S. Lewis, Jorge Luis Borges, Umberto Eco, and J. K. Rowling, are drawn from indigenous religious texts, historical chronicles, and a blend of authentic and imaginative sources. Stavans skillfully weaves imagery from the works of magic realist masters, Mexican protest songs, and aboriginal beasts from diverse Jewish, Muslim, European, British, and other traditions. With an imaginative spirit, even the bibliography blends authentic and concocted materials. A Pre-Columbian Bestiary serves as an inspiring record of resistance and memory from a civilization renowned for its awe-inspiring pantheon of myths. It will captivate anyone with an interest in the rich history and vibrant culture of Latin America.

Weight: 376g
Dimension: 140 x 204 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780271087870