Conversations with Rudolfo Anaya

By Bruce Dick and Rudolfo Anaya

Book Overview

In 1972 Rudolfo Anaya (1937-2020) made a quiet entry into American literature with the publication of Bless Me, Ultima. Over the span of twenty-two years, by word of mouth alone, this first novel sold more than 300,000 copies. It was the first Chicano novel to enter the American literary canon, and it helped identify Abaya as one of the founders of Chicano literature.

In this collection of interviews Anaya talked about his life and about how New Mexico, his home state, influenced his work. The interviews also explore the importance that myths and spiritual matters played in his writings. He shared his intimate knowledge of the long struggle of ethnic writers to gain acceptance by mainstream publishers. Anaya also spoke eloquently and passionately of his faith in Chicano literature and of the politics of "hate, prejudice, and bigotry" that minorities face throughout the United States. Yet he remained consistent in his call for all Americans to understand one another. For many decades he was a tireless agent in the push for multiculturalism and pluralism in America.

Anaya was professor emeritus of English and creative writing at the University of New Mexico. Besides his critically acclaimed novels (Bless Me, Ultima; Heart of Aztlan; Tortuge; Albuquerque; Zia Summer; Rio Grande Fall; and Jalamanata), he wrote plays, poems, essays, short stories, and books for children.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1617037001
• ISBN13: 9781617037009
• Release Date: March 2013
• Publisher: University Press of Mississippi
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.74 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

I really enjoyed this book, it was wonderful!

This book by Rudolfo Anaya, Bless Me, Ultima, was a wonderful book. I like the way that he made the reader actually think about what he writes. It really kept me awake at night sometimes. It even made me question my religion! I liked the way Antonio said that God wouldn't forgive everyone, but the VIrgin Mary will forgive everyone. If you haven't read this book, I strongly encourage you to read this!