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The Broken Spears - (Beacon Classics) by Miguel León-Portilla (Hardcover)

The Broken Spears - (Beacon Classics) by  Miguel León-Portilla (Hardcover) - 1 of 1
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About this item

Highlights

  • The revolutionary account of the Spanish conquest of Mexico, through the eyes of the vanished, challenging colonial narratives and centering Aztec voices A limited Beacon Classics edition, with a gorgeous spot gloss cover and retro, classic palette For hundreds of years, the history of the conquest of Mexico and the defeat of the Aztecs has been told in the words of the Spanish victors.
  • About the Author: Miguel León-Portilla (1926-2019), renowned historian and anthropologist, is best known for his work regarding Nahuatl history.
  • 216 Pages
  • History, Latin America
  • Series Name: Beacon Classics

Description



About the Book



"In this new edition of his classic, Leâon-Portilla's work to unearth the voices of Aztec people from the past and the present continues to illuminate untold realities of colonization. His work includes accounts from those present at the time of the conquest of Mexico and has been expanded to include accounts from native Aztec descendants across the centuries since. These texts bear witness to the extraordinary vitality of an oral tradition that preserves the viewpoints of the vanquished instead of the victors"-- Provided by publisher.



Book Synopsis



The revolutionary account of the Spanish conquest of Mexico, through the eyes of the vanished, challenging colonial narratives and centering Aztec voices

A limited Beacon Classics edition, with a gorgeous spot gloss cover and retro, classic palette

For hundreds of years, the history of the conquest of Mexico and the defeat of the Aztecs has been told in the words of the Spanish victors. This is only a small part of the full story. Miguel León-Portilla has long been at the forefront of expanding that history to include the voices of indigenous peoples. Portilla's work translating and compiling the voices contained within the pages of The Broken Spears has been revered since the book's original Spanish publication in 1959 and original English publication in 1962.

In this new edition of his classic, León-Portilla's work to unearth the voices of Aztec people from the past and the present continues to illuminate untold realities of colonization. His work includes accounts from those present at the time of the conquest of Mexico and has been expanded to include accounts from native Aztec descendants across the centuries since. These texts bear witness to the extraordinary vitality of an oral tradition that preserves the viewpoints of the vanquished instead of the victors.

Through these firsthand accounts from Aztec peoples, a new story about the conquest of Mexico unfolds. Portilla translates these stories, but he also investigates how these firsthand accounts came to be, remaining cognizant of what can be lost in translation, and the stakes of allowing history to be written by the victors.

The Broken Spears is an exemplary body of historical work that seeks to challenge the pervasiveness of colonial narratives and continues to shape the study of history to this day.



Review Quotes




A moving and powerful account, a unique reading experience which should not be missed by any reader interested in history.--Los Angeles Times



About the Author



Miguel León-Portilla (1926-2019), renowned historian and anthropologist, is best known for his work regarding Nahuatl history. His works include The Broken Spears: The Aztec Account of the Conquest of Mexico; Native Meso-American Spirituality; and In the Language of Kings: An Anthology of Mesoamerican Literature--Pre-Columbian to the Present. León-Portilla studied at Loyola University and National Autonomous University.
Dimensions (Overall): 9.2 Inches (H) x 6.43 Inches (W) x .68 Inches (D)
Weight: 1.04 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 216
Genre: History
Sub-Genre: Latin America
Series Title: Beacon Classics
Publisher: Beacon Press
Theme: Mexico
Format: Hardcover
Author: Miguel León-Portilla
Language: English
Street Date: June 10, 2025
TCIN: 93762291
UPC: 9780807019054
Item Number (DPCI): 247-05-4013
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Shipping details

Estimated ship dimensions: 0.68 inches length x 6.43 inches width x 9.2 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 1.04 pounds
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