Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Review of I, Rigoberta Menchu: An Indian Woman in Guatemala

I, Rigoberta Menchu: An Indian Woman in Guatemala
reviewed on + 1775 more book reviews


A quite early autobiography but no interest in it here so I will take it to the VA Hospital lobby. Her vigorous life's work was "born of wretchedness and bitterness."
I especially liked Chapter XIV A Maid in the Capital; many of the others are too depressing.
No index but there is a glossary and a very short bibliography.
She had an engagement at CalStateLA early in the century and I saw her as very formidable. Unfortunately, the ASB President chose to introduce her with a speech in poor Spanish (not that I could do better, but I could do shorter) and because of the crowd in the Student Union had us all move to another floor. There was still a crowd and we were moved again, so I gave up and went to study. I did see a note left on the 4th floor (ASB offices) in which they were trying to raise the rest of her fee ($10,000 as I recall) so I am glad she was earning a few dollars after so many privations (but maybe only $6,000 or $7,000 from CalStateLA).