Malinche : A Novel

When Malinalli, a member of the tribe conquered by the Aztec warriors, first meets Cortés, she -- like many -- believes that he is the reincarnated forefather god of her tribe. Naturally, she assumes that her task is to help Cortés destroy the Aztec empire and free her people. The two fall passionately in love, but Malinalli gradually comes to realize that Cortés's thirst for conquest is all too human. He is willing to destroy anyone, even his own men, even their own love. Throughout Mexican history, Malinalli has been reviled for her betrayal of the Indian people. However, recent historical research has shown that her role was much more complex; she was the mediator between two cultures, Hispanic and Native American, and two languages, Spanish and Náhuatl. Bursting with lyricism and vivid imagery, Malinche finally unveils the truth behind this legendary love affair. Un recuento del trágico y apasionado amor entre el conquistador Hernán Cortés y la india Malinalli, su intérprete durante la conquista del imperio azteca. Cuando Malinalli conoce a Cortés, asume que se trata del propio Dios Quetzalcóatl que regresa a liberar a su pueblo. Los dos se enamoran apasionadamente, pero este amor pronto es destruido por la desmedida sed de conquista, poder y riqueza de Cortés. A lo largo de la historia de México Malinalli/Malinche ha sido conocida por su traición al pueblo indio. Pero recientes investigaciones históricas han mostrado que Malinalli fue la mediadora entre dos culturas, la hispánica y la americana nativa; y entre dos lenguas, el español y el náhuatl. Lo que Esquivel ha hecho aquí es desafiar la mitología tradicional mediante un retrato muy temperamental del Adán y la Eva de la cultura mestiza, Cortés y Malinalli, con la caída del imperio azteca como telón de fondo. --Desde la descripción de la editorial When Malinalli, a member of the tribe conquered by the Aztec warriors, first meets CortEs, she -- like many -- believes that he is the reincarnated forefather god of her tribe. Naturally, she assumes that her task is to help CortEs destroy the Aztec empire and free her people. The two fall passionately in love, but Malinalli gradually comes to realize that CortEs's thirst for conquest is all too human. He is willing to destroy anyone, even his own men, even their own love. Throughout Mexican history, Malinalli has been reviled for her betrayal of the Indian people. However, recent historical research has shown that her role was much more complex; she was the mediator between two cultures, Hispanic and Native American, and two languages, Spanish and NAhuatl. Bursting with lyricism and vivid imagery, Malinche finally unveils the truth behind this legendary love affair Bestselling author of Like Water for Chocolate Laura Esquivel returns with Malinche, an extraordinary retelling of the passionate and tragic love affair during the conquest of the Aztecs between the conquistador Cortez and his Indian interpreter Malinalli. When Malinalli, a member of the tribe conquered by the Aztec warriors, first meets the conquistador Hernán Cortés and becomes his interpreter, she—like many—believes him to be the reincarnated forefather god of her tribe. Naturally, she assumes she must welcome him, and help him destroy the Aztec empire and free her people. The two fall passionately in love, but Malinalli soon realizes that Cortés's thirst for conquest is all too human, and that he is willing to destroy anyone, even his own men—and even their own love.