The Narrative of Cabeza de Vaca
by Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca
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Book Summary Information
Author: Alvar Nunez Cabeza De VacaTranslator: Rolena Adorno
Translator: Patrick Charles Pautz
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); Spanish (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2003-05-01
ISBN: 080326416X
Number of pages: 204
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
Book Reviews of The Narrative of Cabeza de Vaca
Book Review: Priceless, Amazing and Entertaining
Summary: 5 Stars
Cabeza de Vaca's story, told in his own words, is a priceless view into a world that is no more, the world of North America before Europeans arrived. It's a view into how the Native Americans really lived, not how scholars think they lived. The Indians of the Texas coast have long been reported as ferocious cannibals, even in present-day textbooks. But these same Indians greeted the freezing, starving shipwreck victims, of which Cabeza de Vaca was one, with tears and compassion, taking them back to their campfires and saving their lives. The entire narrative gives glimpses into the interactions amongst tribes, customs, beliefs and superstitions, survival techniques (what they ate) and all manner of other interesting facts about how these Indians lived. Sadly, before any other person could live among them, know them and tell their stories, most of the Native American tribes that Cabeza de Vaca lived and travelled among, were decimated by European diseases. Their history is, otherwise, lost. They have been eradicated, so this one narrative is now their story, too. This is why I believe it is priceless, and I often wonder why it is so seemingly overlooked in our history books and resources.
In addition to providing important details on what the entire south central region of the US was like before Europeans arrived, the Narrative is extremely entertaining in the way that a good book or modern movie would be. Cabeza de Vaca was like Job, a well-educated adventurer, a Spanish conquistador off to find a fortune in gold (this was not an unrealistic quest, as many had alreay done so and many would in the years ahead). He was at the top of his game in that day and age, at least by European standards. But poor decisions and bad luck caused a complete loss of the ships and supplies, and left a small group of the men stranded without any provisions or clothes, in wintertime on what is present-day Galveston Island. Surrounded by people whose language and customs were completely foreign in every way, in a land they knew nothing about, de Vaca and his companions were at the mercy of the land and its residents. Everything that they once had of value -- their weapons, government, educations, religion, clothing, language, and status -- was gone. On top of that, they had to face the elements head-on and had to learn to avoid death or enslavement by the natives.
The Narrative is the story of how this one man survived, and after years of life in this strange land (that is now "our" home!), eventually walked to Mexico and recaptured his old European life. He returned to Spain, but he was a different man altogether. The third, and perhaps most human and intriguing layer of this story, is the change that was made inside the heart of Cabeza de Vaca. He came as an arrogant European and left humbled and indebted to a people who respected him and supported him along his thousands of miles of wanderings. In the end, though he pleaded to his countrymen, he was not able to affect the status or demise of the Indians. This is a piece of their story still here today for us to read, know and feel.
Again, I believe this book is priceless and should be read by every American.
Summary of The Narrative of Cabeza de Vaca
This edition of Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca?s Relación offers readers Rolena Adorno and Patrick Charles Pautz's celebrated translation of Cabeza de Vaca?s account of the 1527 Pánfilo de Narváez expedition to North America. The dramatic narrative tells the story of some of the first Europeans and the first-known African to encounter the North American wilderness and its Native inhabitants. It is a fascinating tale of survival against the highest odds, and it highlights Native Americans and their interactions with the newcomers in a manner seldom seen in writings of the period.
In this English-language edition, reproduced from their award-winning three-volume set, Adorno and Pautz supplement the engrossing account with a general introduction that orients the reader to Cabeza de Vaca?s world. They also provide explanatory notes, which resolve many of the narrative?s most perplexing questions. This highly readable translation fires the imagination and illuminates the enduring appeal of Cabeza de Vaca?s experience for a modern audience.
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