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A brilliant and multilingual woman, Malinalli has been reviled throughout Mexican history for the betrayal of her people—but her role was actually much more complex.
When a young Malinalli's tribe was conquered and enslaved by the Aztec warriors, her grandmother imparted to her that their founding forefather god, Quetzalcoatl, had abandoned them—but he was destined to return with the rising sun and save her tribe from captivity. When the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés first arrives, she—like many—believes he is the reincarnated forefather god of her tribe, here to free them.
With her talent for linguistics, Malinalli became an indespensable guide and translator for Cortés. In the hopes of freeing her people—and wanting to please this supposed god—she welcomes Cortés and assumes her new role as an interpreter for the Spanish. Throughout their travels and various conquests, Cortés and Malinalli gradually fall passionately in love. But it's not long before Malinalli 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.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
May 2, 2006 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780743564557
- File size: 194463 KB
- Duration: 06:45:07
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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Much like Esquivel's timeless LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE, this novel is a magical, spiritual story that highlights the strength of women and the intensity of relationships. Maria Conchita Alonso's musical voice is an ideal vehicle for the telling of a vivid fictionalization of Mexico's history. There are moments when the voice that is positively melodious in one sentence is awkward in others, but it seems to be more the result of the translation than any weakness in Alonso's performance. Alonso effervesces with a rich enthusiasm for both the story and its language, and the result is an engaging, passionate audiobook. L.B.F. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine -
February 27, 2006
Through the eyes of the historical native woman of the novel's title, Esquivel (Like Water for Chocolate
) reveals the defeat and destruction of Montezuma's 16th-century Mexicas
empire at the hands of Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés. Malinche, also called Malinalli, was sold into slavery as a child and later became "The Tongue," Cortés's interpreter and lover—remembered by history as a traitor for her contribution to the brutal Spanish triumph. In her lyrical but flawed fifth novel, Esquivel details richly imagined complications for a woman trapped between the ancient Mexicas
civilization and the Spaniards. Esquivel revels in descriptions of the role of ancient gods in native life and Malinalli's theological musings on the similarities between her belief system and Christianity. But what the book offers in anthropological specificity, it lacks in narrative immediacy, even while Esquivel also imagines Cortés's point of view. The author also packs the arc of Malinalli's life into a relatively short novel: she bears Cortés an illegitimate son, marries another Spaniard and has a daughter before her sad demise. The resulting disjointed storytelling gives short shrift to this complex heroine, a woman whose role in Mexican history is controversial to this day. 13-city author tour. -
Laura Esquivel es una de las mejores y m‡s respetadas escritoras de Latinoamérica. Sus seguidores aun leen y releen sus libros a–os después de su publicación. Con su m‡s reciente obra MALINCHE la autora explora el personaje controversial de Malinalli, la interprete y luego amante ind’gena de Hern‡n Cortes, odiada a lo largo de la historia mexicana. En esta producción en audio de FonoLibro, vivimos la historia completa con la formidable narración de la estrella mexicana Lucia Méndez. La talentosa cantante y actriz le inyecta a esta producción un ritmo melódico y placentero en espa–ol y n‡huatl lo que hace de esta versión toda una obra literaria merecedora de muchas aclamaciones.
[ENGLISH TRANSLATION]--Laura Esquivel is one of the best and most well-known Latin American writers. Her fans continue to read and re-read her books years after their initial publication. With her most recent work, MALINCHE, the author explores the controversial figure of Malinalli, the interpreter and lover of Hernan Cortes, who was vilified throughout Mexico's history. In this Spanish-language production, we relive the whole story through the wonderful narration of Mexican star Lucia Mendez. The talented and well-loved singer and actress infuses this production with a melodic and pleasant rhythm in Spanish and Nahuatl, which makes this version a literary masterpiece worthy of the highest accolades. M.T.P. 2008 Audies Finalist (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine
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