The Presence of Mayan Literature in "Hombres de Maiz" and Other Works by Miguel Angel Asturias

Abstract

tive involvement in Indian (specifically Mayan) literature, though his work is commonly praised for its original American qualities.1 By a familiar irony Asturias first encountered Indian literature in Europe, when he worked with Georges Raynaud in the 1920s on a number of texts, among them the Annals of the Cakchiquels and the Popol Vuh of their near relations the Quiche. His Spanish translations of these books both appeared in 1927 as Anales de los Xahil de los indios cakchiqueles de Guatemala and El libro del consejo. They were both annotated in a way that indicates concentrated focus. His own first work of fiction, Leyendas de Guatemala (1932), bears marks of just such a focus, being replete with references to the Indian books he was reading at the time. Once established this Mayan dimension stayed there: through Hombres de miaiz (1949) to works like Clarivigilia primaveral (1965) and Mulata de tal (1963) of the last decade. The nature of his Indian commitment has however varied signally.