Lamentations of Nezahualcóyotl: Nahuatl Poems

By Nezahualcóyotl

Book Overview

From award-winning author, editor, and translator Ilan Stavans comes a one-of-a-kind retelling of a legendary Aztec ruler's timeless verses.

A king, a warrior, and a poet, Nezahualc yotl was a revolutionary ahead of his time. Born in 1402, the ruler--whose name means 'hungry coyote' in the Uto-Aztecan language of Nahuatl--led the city-state of Texcoco through its age of enlightenment. His four-decade reign was among the most transformative and prosperous eras of the Aztec Empire. Today he is a hero in Mexico, seen as a mysterious, powerful, anti-colonial figure.

Brimming with longing, this epic collection of songs and poems was composed by Nezahualc yotl with members of his illustrious court. Six centuries later, in a powerful translation by Ilan Stavans and with new illustrations by Cuauht moc Wetzka, twenty-two poems bring to life a young warrior's journey from exile to historical legend. Anguished and unforgettable, Lamentations of Nezahualc yotl will thrill readers of Latin American literature for years to come.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1632063867
• ISBN13: 9781632063861
• Release Date: March 2025
• Publisher: Restless Books
• Length: 152 Pages
• Weight: 0.79 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.0" x 7.2"
• Grade Range: Grade 8 to Postsecondary