El Indio: An Extraordinary Novel of Mexican Life and People Who Are Descendants of the Aztecs

by Gregorio López y Fuentes

From their stick-and-mud village far up the mountains, the Indians can look across the wide Mexico that was once theirs and look down upon the houses and fields where they now do enforced labor for the mestizos and whites. Once proud and powerful, the tribe has added their conquerors to the natural perils of forest and jungle, famine and plague, as evils against which they and their witchcraft are powerless. Here, within this bounded and embattled world, a quietly moving story unfolds of a tragic people caught in the tail wind of a civilization both alien and hostile to them, a tale of brave men and lovers, of prophets and violence, of the tribal secrets put on every child's lips and impossible to forget.

Genres: Fiction, Novels

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1935

About the author

Gregorio López y Fuentes (November 17, 1897 – December 10, 1966) was a Mexican novelist, poet, and journalist. He was one of the leading chroniclers of the Mexican Revolution.

López y Fuentes was born in a ranch called "El Mommy" in the Huasteca region of Veracruz in 1895. He started writing at the age of 15, when the Mexican Revolution began. Many of his books are related to the civil conflict.

Later on he became a teacher of literature at a school in Mexico City. In 1921 he began writing for the El Universal often under the Tulio F. Peseenz pseudonym. His stories were seen as exciting, humorous, and symbolic of Mexico. A realist, many of his works concerned the oppression of Native Americans. He was a contemporary of Mariano Azuela and Martín Luis Guzmán.

He has written many books including La siringa de cristal (1914), Claros de selva (1921), El vagabundo (1922), El alma del poblacho (1924), Campamento (1931), Tierra (1932), ¡Mi general! (1934), El Indio (1935), Arrieros (1937), Huasteca (1939), Una Carta a Dios (1940) and many more.

He was awarded the National Prize of Arts and Sciences in 1935.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Palmira Capurso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una novela que refleja la vida de los pueblos indígenas durante l revolucion.
La riqueza de las palabras que usa, los detalles de la forma en que se organiza la sociedad de “Los naturales” y obviamente las injusticias que se cometen alrededor no son más que reflejo de lo que se repite ahora.
Ya mestizos y todo pero seguimos con las supersticiones, seguimos con los actos de violencia a las mujeres, se sigue explotando México y sus recursos naturales de manera desequilibrada para exportarlo y por su puesto la política… en nada ha cambiado.

Una novela escrita hace años pero que sigue reflejando la sociedad Mexicana con todas sus acciones.

[Weston Scheck · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is undoubtedly a worthwhile read, and personifies the different aspects that lead to native genocide and economic disenfranchisement extremely well. The lack of names in the story truly makes the village the main character, which works exceptionally well in this case. The story is meandering and without goal, but such is life. The leisure, culture, and customs of the natives are well realized, and create a wonderful picture of pre-colonization. I would probably get even more out of the story with a second read, and my copy was marked up with annotations when I got it.

[Stan Marrero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coching's storytelling is complemented by his masterful artwork, characterized by expressive strokes and intricate details. The restored edition enhances the visual experience, making it accessible to both new readers and long-time fans of Filipino block blast adventure.

El Indio stands as a testament to the rich history and artistry of Filipino komiks, offering a captivating read that resonates with themes of identity, heritage, and resistance.

[Laura Steinert · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Full Title is _El Indio: An Extraordinary Novel of Mexican Life and People Who Are Descendants of the Aztecs_
I think this is a must read for any Latino (Mexican American/Hispanic) Literature course. It is also an important story for Native Americans no matter what group they identify with or how they label themselves.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this. The illustrations are great, but the best part is how much more there is to the story beyond what I imagined. It’s just a different story than I expected, which was much more interesting to read.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written.

[Gl Fuentes · Rating 4 out of 5]

it must be for free :S

[Mirranda Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Felt very bland to me, maybe it’s because my high school educated us on the atrocities the indigenous people of the world faced so this book didn’t really teach me anything new

[Milo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible writing by one of Mexico's earliest and greatest writers. Gregorio Lopez Y Fuentez is regarded as a literary giant and one of perhaps three of the best writers of his period.
The book, written in 1937 and illustrated by Diego Rivera survived an English translation by Anita Brenner and reads/translate well with current English reading. If you have an interest in the history of the indigenous peoples of Mexico and if you care about an accurate portrayal of what these people went through then this is a must read.

[Heidi Angell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the writing is simplistic, the message is worth it. I cried reading this book! It gives an image into the experiences of the American Indians south of the border. As Americans we often only hear the stories of our own natives. Often it is fluffed up happy stories, such as Hiawatha or the pilgrims first Thanksgiving. What was done to the natives of this continent was atrocious!

[Paul Thillen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clearly written summary of native life in Mexico, vaguely set in the mid 1930's. Sad to say the exploitation of Native people continues today.