Lord of the Dawn: The Legend of Quetzalcoati

by Rudolfo Anaya

lord of the dawn

159 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1987

About the author

Rudolfo Anaya lives and breathes the landscape of the Southwest. It is a powerful force, full of magic and myth, integral to his writings. Anaya, however, is a native Hispanic fascinated by cultural crossings unique to the Southwest, a combination of oldSpain and New Spain, of Mexico with Mesoamerica and the anglicizing forces of the twentieth century. Rudolfo Anaya is widely acclaimed as the founder of modern Chicano literature. According to the New York Times, he is the most widely read author in Hispanic communities, and sales of his classic Bless Me, Ultima (1972) have surpassed 360,000, despite the fact that none of his books have been published originally by New York publishing houses. His works are standard texts in Chicano studies and literature courses around the world, and he has done more than perhaps any other single person to promote publication of books by Hispanic authors in this country. With the publication of his novel, Albuquerque (1992),Newsweek has proclaimed him a front-runner in "what is better called not the new multicultural writing, but the new American writing." His most recent volume, published in 1995, is Zia Summer.

"I've always used the technique of the cuento. I am an oral storyteller, but now I do it on the printed page. I think if we were very wise we would use that same tradition in video cassettes, in movies, and on radio."

from
http://www.unm.edu/~wrtgsw/anaya.html
and
http://www.gale.cengage.com/free_reso...

Reviews

[Julie Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

As author of The Last Toltec King, and a person who has researched Toltec history for many years, I give Lord of the Dawn 5 stars! While much is known of the Aztec (Mexica) empire, we know quite a deal less of the ancient Toltecs. Much of Toltec history as we know it comes from Aztec informants who disclosed their oral traditions to long-suffering Franciscan friars who laboriously chronicled tomes upon tomes of Aztec culture, beliefs, traditions, and history.

Hundreds of years passed between the Toltec empire and the Aztec empire, so that the stories, oral histories, legends, and songs of Ce Acatl Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl spread throughout ancient Mexico, creating a plethora of "regional" versions of this cultural hero. In addition, the various incidents of Ce Acatl's life, which appear in snippets and pieces, are located across a span of arcane sources, written in pictographs, Nahuatl, Latin, and Spanish.

Was he a god, or was he a man?

Our esteemed and most admired author, Rudolfo Anaya, chooses to represent Topiltzin as a god, Quetzalcoatl incarnate, who visits the Toltecs in human form to bring them the teachings of wisdom and spiritual awareness. Through art and poetry, Quetzalcoatl is able to guide the Toltecs to a zenith of prosperity.

But I get ahead of myself, because the story begins with Quetzalcoatl's nemesis, Lord Huemac, whose lusty character is driven by power, greed, and self-gratification at the expense of others. At the time Quetzalcoatl arrives to Tula, Lord Huemac is king, and holds on to his power through selfishness, manipulation and subversion.

The two juxtaposed characters face off throughout the tale. Not only do the characters come to life in and of themselves, but they both represent greater, archetypal themes. Mr. Anaya not only endears us with his storytelling, he also leaves us to ponder the greater mysteries of good vs. evil, spirituality vs. materialism, and the power of forgiveness.

I've noticed that readers who love this genre tend to be divided over the difficult, Nahuatl terminology. When an author uses too many Nahuatl names and terms, there are those who get frustrated. They want to be able to follow the storyline without the hindrances of mind-boggling words like Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli that take five times to sound out and a glossary at the end to comprehend. At the other side of the field of fans is the sock-it-to-me crowd that craves to be intellectually challenged at every turn. These are the readers who put the book down so they can "Google it."

Lord of the Dawn is not jumbled up with difficult Nahuatl terminology. It is an easy, enjoyable read for anyone who wants a narrative style interpretation of this most beautiful time in our past.

One criticism I could see readers having with Lord of the Dawn is that it is over simplistic, too short, and doesn't contain enough detail. I can understand this yearning, as the legends surrounding Quetzalcoatl (both god and king) are numerous indeed. But I also understand why Mr. Anaya might have chosen to tell the tale the way he did - streamlined with minimal sensory description. It would be my hunch that author Rudolfo Anaya chose to include only the elements of storytelling that were pertinent to his themes of good vs. evil and spirituality vs. materialism. And this he does quite successfully! Also, the narrative honors that age-old voice of wisdom found in the ancient texts - "Ea, young seeker of knowledge..."

The only criticism I have of Lord of the Dawn would be the use of a few anachronisms, terminology that is out of place and time. The words jasmine, fiesta, and coin all popped out at me.

I very much enjoyed Lord of the Dawn, especially so because I have devoted so many years of my life to the study of Toltec history. It is a delightful read that should accompany every History of Ancient Mexico college course.

[Wren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book informatively brings to life the myth of Quetzalcoatl, but not in a way that is particularly memorable or iconic. A good book for those studying mythology. It's a great story, and told knowledgeably, but not entertainingly. This is interesting, as it's certainly not just a dry and distant recitation of facts as many mythology texts are.

Overall, I give it a solid "meh."

[Marcy Rae Henry]

notas:
*q died a symbolic death in a stone coffin and emerged 'reborn,' sound familiar? for last life stage. he then traveled simply w no ornamentation or riquesas, sound familiar? at a point in his pilgrimage his only companions 'were dwarfs and cripples,' inspiracion para 'holy mt'? he left holy marks and shrines along the way for worship.

*q traveled to tlillan tlapallan aka 'the land of blk and red' could be tabasco or w. yukatan and mythic location where 'the morning star announces rebirth of the sun whr the red sun leaves the blkness of nt.'

*ometeotl is lord and lady of duality, ma and pa, male and female, founder of universe aka giver of life who begat 4 sons: red tezcatlipoca, and blk tez. one god of war, huitzilopochtli, left handed hummingbird. one was q. [war was smlest.] q and h built the world. 'they gave women: grains of corn for making cures and soothsaying and witchcraft. then teh gods made the days and months. they gave ea month 20 days and created 18 months.'

[Juan DeLeon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decorated dean of Chicano literature, Rodolfo Anaya's entrance to Mesoamericana feels like it has the same bones like his classic Bless Me, Ultimate, but this would be the marrow of what La curandera, Ultima would perhaps base her belief system, wrapped With Christian saints and hierarchy.

Quetzalcoatl's tale is economically produced and is set in Teotihuacán, with minimal movements throughout the grand city. It feels like a parable to contemporary times, with a despot leader, Huemoc, desperate to attain power through warfare and also curry such power through the mysterious priest that has just arrived.

Huemoc struggles to throw all the enticements at Quetzalcoatl, including his beautiful daughter, but to no avail. Huemoc, with the help of his priests, summons the priest brother, Tezcatlipoca. He is a shadow presence, a trickster god and rival, but Anaya does not incorporates this interesting character further than just mentioning him. The conflict is between these two men, or beings.

Quetzalcoatl, eventually sees his fate and does not fight it, which feels a bit like the New Testament with Jesus and the Judas like hanging of a character.

Still, haunting, is what lurks Quetzalcoatl promise to return on the date 1 Reed, him not letting on whether he himself knows of that calamity to come from eastern shores.

Wonderful work by a very talented story teller.

[Maria D · Rating 5 out of 5]

The legend was put together very well! One can see it vividly, like a vision dream being told by a shaman. I've also read the Popol Vu, which tells more stories, but is considerably drier, and doesn't explain perspective to non-indigenous readers. But this book does well in keeping interest high, and explaining perspective; hence my 5 star rating.

[Bobbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm curious how much this reflects the original stories and whether there was Christian impact. What a shame that so many myths and legends across the world that defined a people were changed fundamentally by the influx of the Christian religion and its forceful bearers. If that's not the case here, the similarities to the story of Jesus are striking.