Song of the Hummingbird

by Graciela Limón

Book Overview

An acclaimed novel available for the first time in Spanish about an Aztec princess turned slave and concubine who recounts her life during the Spanish conquest of Mexico to a young priest. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1558850910
• ISBN13: 9781558850910
• Release Date: June 1996
• Publisher: Arte Publico Press
• Length: 217 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Song of the Hummingbird

This is an excellent book, great reading and an amazing insight to the Aztec Culture and what they went through went Mexico was invaded by the Spanish Conquistadors.

Loved It!!

Great book for any undergraduate Chican@/Latin@ Lit. course! Checkout her other books as well, Dr. Limon is an amazing writer.

a real eye-, mind-, and heart-opener!

--- a blend of fact and fiction that is bound to make even historians reconsider their previously learned "facts" to date.graciela limon, with her Song of the Hummingbird, has created a thought-provoking literary masterpiece! deep from within its lyrical pages we hear huitzitzilin (hummingbird) as she sings the songs of her ancestors. she sings to set the record/s straight, "to break the silence that has broken her people's spirit" and to tell a story that demands to be heard.as her appointed confessor, father benito finds himself forced to sit and listen to what he, at first, considers to be mere "ramblings" of an old mexica -- who proceeds to quickly and surprisingly engage him - as she proudly, passionately and, at times even playfully re-tells the past as she knows, remembers and has lived it. after many hours, that carry over into days, spent with the outspoken and intelligent woman, the priest slowly begins to see things from a different "i" -- and not only hears huitzitzilin's words, but also begins to feel the pain of her cry -- as she paints for him a picture of a past that had never before been imagined by his foreign eyes.although at times shocked and often astounded by hummingbird's "warblings," the young man of the cloth begins to question that which he was, as a naive school-boy, taught, and he, as a novice, learned -- and finds himself conflicted and curiously "torn" .... why had he never before conceived of the natives as having families? how is it that he never believed them to shed tears? who was more savage and barbarian? -- the bearded warriors who spilled blood in the name of the cross and salvation -- or the mexica lords with their crimson-stained sacrificial slabs -- both the practices and preachings led to torture, suffering, death and .... annihilation -- of individuals, masses, cultures and entire civilizations; losses to be mourned.with their songs, both hummingbird and limon help to open closed hearts and broaden narrow minds by reminding listeners and readers that there is often a fine line between fact and fable; and that one must look to the past, not only with a discerning mind, but with an understanding and human heart -- as, in the end, did father benito; who, in a sense, as he re-wrote history, was reborn. thanks to his, and limon's efforts, hummingbird's song "will live on forever - because her words have been captured on paper!"absolutely beautiful! a refreshing new perspective on the culture clash, conquest and coming together of an old and the new worlds. a book that makes a strong statement and argument (several) about and for, above all things,: understanding differences, accepting diversity and "forgiving" the most incomprehensible behaviors.written in tenderly touching, humorously entertaining and educationally engrossing ways.i highly recommend it to - and for - everyone!

Excellent reading !!!!

An incredible account of history through the perspective of the conquered. Powerful interaction between the priest and 'Hummingbird' whose confession challenges his version of history, religion, and the truth. Beautifully captured is the strong emotion felt by the characters as the story unfolds.

Hear the Story Hernan Cortes Did Not Write

The old Mexica woman wishes to confess, so a young priest is sent to her. What she actually wants to do, however, is tell her story because she is old and knows death approaches. History being written by the victors means that the story of the indigenous peoples of Mexico has not been told. Huitzitzilin, Hummingbird, will tell the story under the guise of confession. The young priest is astounded with what he hears and the reader will be also. Huitzitzilin was in the middle of the action and knows what happened when Moctezuma gave over his part of the kingdom of Tenochtitlan or Mexico. She saw Cuauhtemoc, another king, tortured by having his feet burned. Ultimately, she saw Moctezuma hanged. It is the time of the 5th sun with prehistory ending, and civilization entering with the Spanish conquerers forcing themselves into peaceful kingdom of the Aztecs, the Mexica. The other side of the story has captured my students. There's love, betrayal, sacrifice, and survival. Also the young priest finds he has been changed considerably. Read this one. It's a winner!