The Essays

Title:

The Essays

Author:

Anaya, Rudolfo

Davis-Undiano, Robert con

Subject:

Biography & Autobiography

Literary Criticism

Multi-Cultural

Nonfiction

Description:

Fifty-two essays exploring identity, literature, immigration, and politics by the American Book Award winner, one of the godfathers of Chicano literature. Best known for his novel Bless Me, Ultima, which established him as one of the founders of Chicano literature, Rudolfo Anaya displays his gift for storytelling and deep connection to the land and its history in The Essays. These intimate and contemplative essays explore censorship, immigration, urban development, the Southwest as a region, and personal identity. In "Aztlan: A Homeland Without Boundaries," he discusses the reimagining of the modern Chicano community through ancient myth and legend; in "The Spirit of Place," he explores the historical connection between literature and the earth. Some essays are autobiographical, some argumentative; all are passionate—and a must-read for Anaya fans and readers who crave a view of contemporary America through fresh eyes.

Publisher:

Open Road Media

Date:

2015/11/24

Digital Format:

HTML

ADOBE EPUB

KINDLE

Language:

English

Summary

Fifty-two essays exploring identity, literature, immigration, and politics by the American Book Award winner, one of the godfathers of Chicano literature.

Best known for his novel Bless Me, Ultima , which established him as one of the founders of Chicano literature, Rudolfo Anaya displays his gift for storytelling and deep connection to the land and its history in The Essays . These intimate and contemplative essays explore censorship, immigration, urban development, the Southwest as a region, and personal identity.

In "Aztlan: A Homeland Without Boundaries," he discusses the reimagining of the modern Chicano community through ancient myth and legend; in "The Spirit of Place," he explores the historical connection between literature and the earth. Some essays are autobiographical, some argumentative; all are passionate--and a must-read for Anaya fans and readers who crave a view of contemporary America through fresh eyes.

Author Notes

Rudolfo Anaya was professor emeritus of English at the University of New Mexico. He received numerous literary awards, including the Premio Quinto Sol and a National Medal of Arts. He is the author of the classic work Bless Me, Ultima , which was chosen for the National Endowment for the Arts' Big Read. Anaya's other books for adults include Tortuga , Heart of Aztlan , Alburquerque , Rio Grande Fall , Shaman Winter , Jemez Spring , Serafina's Stories , The Man Who Could Fly and Other Stories , and Rudolfo Anaya: The Essays. His children's books include Farolitos of Christmas , My Land Sings , Elegy on the Death of César Chávez , Roadrunner's Dance , and The First Tortilla . Bless Me, Ultima was adapted into a feature film in 2013.

Reviews (1)

Choice Review

A noted Chicano novelist, Anaya (emer., English, Univ. of New Mexico) presents 52 essays he wrote for a variety of audiences, ranging from the parents and students at the 1978 graduation ceremonies of Albuquerque High School to literary scholars at professional conferences. Also included are opinion pieces written for local and national periodicals and articles published in journals in such fields as education, health, and literature. Organized into six sections ("Living Chicano," "Censorship," "The Southwest: Landscape and Sense of Place," "Culture and Art of the Southwest," "Literature of the Southwest," and "Modern Ethnic Literature and Culture"), the essays explore the inception, development, and continuance of the Chicano movement. Anaya addresses his audience with the same personal voice one finds in his novels. He honestly and thoughtfully reflects on specific moments--e.g., from discovering that his novel Bless Me, Ultima (1972) has yet again been censored, to receiving the National Medal of Arts from President George W. Bush. This collection will provide scholars of Anaya's work with insights into his writing process and into the larger worldview that forms the context for his works. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty; general readers. P. M. Garcia University of Texas at Austin