"This is an extremely deep, broad and insightful collection on Peru."--Jorge Castaneda, Newsweek columnist and author of Utopia Unarmed: The Latin American Left after the Cold War

"A livelier, more literate introduction to a foreign world could not be hoped for. A Peruvian trove, indeed; so much that one hardly knows where to begin dipping into its treasures."--Alma Guillermoprieto, author of The Heart that Bleeds: Latin America Now

"Original and lively, with indigenous and vernacular voices richly represented, this book brings together an astonishing range of primary texts to introduce readers to the cultural and political history of what is now Peru. Nothing like it exists, in English or Spanish."--Mary Louise Pratt, author of Imperial Eyes: Travel Writingand Transculturation

"This book is as indispensable for the first-time visitor to Peru as for the serious student of Latin American history and culture."--Michael F. Brown, author of War of Shadows: The Struggle for Utopia in the Peruvian Amazon

A taste: The Pongo's Dream JoséMaria Arguedas

Chayraq! Carlos Ivan Degregori

The PERU READER

Sixteenth-century Spanish soldiers described it as a land filled with gold and silver, a land of untold wealth. To the Europeans who heard these stories it was a place of tantalizing mystery that mirrored dreams and desires unsatisfied by the Old World. Nineteenth-century travelers wrote of soaring Andean peaks plunging into luxuriant Amazonian canyons of orchids, pythons, and jaguars. Early twentieth-century adventurer Hiram Bingham told of the raging rivers and the wild jungles he traversed on his way to "discover" the "Lost City of the Incas," Machu Picchu. The richest treasures, the bloodiest conquest, the most poignant ballads, the most violent revolutionaries--all have been attributed to Peru.

Unparalleled in its scope, comprehensive, and written for the traveler and specialist alike, The Peru Reader offers a deeper understanding of the country that lies behind these images. Beginning with extensive historical material on topics ranging from Peru's extraordinary pre-Columbian civilizations, through the Spanish conquest, to colonial and postcolonial rule, it weaves together a vast array of essays, folklore, historical documents, poetry, songs, short stories, autobiographical accounts, and photographs about this largest of the Andean nations. Works by contemporary Peruvian intellectuals and politicians, many translated for the first time, are presented here. The voices of the country's often silenced underclass--peasants, street vendors, maids, Amazonian Indians, African-Peruvians--will also be found in this richly textured anthology. Blending together with the best of Western journalism and scholarship, these voices also address matters of contemporary Peruvian culture and politics such as the Maoist insurgency of the Shining Path, the cocaine economy, and the ongoing struggle for dignity and justice in a multicultural nation where Andean, African, Amazonian, and European traditions meet.


Orin Starn is Assistant Professor of Cultural Anthropology at Duke University.
Carlos Ivan Degregori is Director of the Institute of Peruvian Studies and Professor at the National University of San Marcos, Lima.
Robin Kirk is Research Associate at Human Rights Watch-Americas and a contributing journalist to The Boston Globe, Ms., The Nation, The Progressive, and other periodicals.

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Box 90660
Durham, North Carolina 27708-0660

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Contents

Acknowledgments ix

A Note on Style xi

Introduction

Part I. The Ancient Civilizations

The Chavin Cult Brian Fagan

Nazca Pottery Javier Sologuren

The Huarochiri Manuscript Anonymous

Moon, Sun, Witches Irene Silverblatt

The Origins of the lncas Garcilaso de la Vega

Cloth, Textile, and the Inca Empire John Murra

Taxation and the Incas Pedro de Cieza de Leon

Officials and Messengers Guaman Poma deAyala

Atahualpa and Pizarro John Hemming

In Defense of the Indians Bartolome de las Casas

Our House Marco Martos

The Tragedy of Success Steve J. Stern

Diary of Colonial Lima Josephe de Mugaburu y Honton

Friar Martin's Mice Ricardo Palma

The Rebellion of Tupac Amaru Alberto Flores Galindo

"All Must Die!" Jose Antonio de Areche

The Battle of Ayacucho Antonio Cisneros

Comas and the War of the Pacific Florencia E. Mallon

Priests, Indians, Soldiers, and Heroes Manuel Gonzalez Prada

Women of Lima Flora Tristan

Amazonian Indians and the Rubber Boom Manuel Cordova

Tempest in the Andes Luis Valearcel

Water! Juan Pevez

Reflections Jose Carlos Mariategui

Human Poems César Vallejo

The APRA Victor Raul Haya de la Torre

The Massacre of Chan Chan CarletonBeals

Lost to Sight César Moro

The Pongo's Dream JoséMaria Arguedas

"The Master Will No Longer Feed Off Your Poverty" Juan Velasco

The 24th of June Gabriel Aragon

Villa El Salvador Cecilia Blondet

Recipe for a House Mercedes Torribio

Featherless Vultures Julio Ramon Ribeyro

Peru's African Rhythms Nicomedes Santa Cruz

A Guerrilla's Word Javier Heraud

Liberation Theology Gustavo Gutierrez

A World forJulius Alfredo Bryce Echenique

"A FrighteningThirst for Vengeance" Osman Morote

We Are the Initiators Abimael Guzman

The Quota Gustavo Gorriti

Memories of a Cadre "Nicario"

Oath of Loyalty- Anonymous

Vietnam in the Andes "Pancho"

Death Threat Anonymous

Women and Terror Raquel Martin de Mejia

Chaqwa Robin Kirk

Huamanguino Ranulfo Fuentes

"There Have Been Threats" Maria Elena Moyano

Peasants at War Ponciano del Pino

The Hold Life Has CatherineJ. Allen

My Little Coca, Let Me Chew You! Anonymous

The Cocaine Economy Jo Ann Kawell

Drugs, Soldiers, and Guerrillas "Chaname"

Soup of the Day Family Kitchen No. 79

Nightwatch Orin Starn

"A Momentous Decision" Alberto Fujimori

Choleric Outbreak Caretas

Simply Pascuala Jose Maria Salcedo

Chayraq! Carlos Ivan Degregori

The Choncholi Chewing Gum Rap Nosequien y los nosecuantos

Sarita Colonia Comes Flying Eduardo Gonzalez Viaña

Is Peru Turning Protestant? Luis Minaya

Interview with a Gay Activist Enrique Bossio

Adrenaline Nights Carmen Olle

Reencounter Giovanna Pollarolo

I Am the Bad Girl of the Story María Emilia Cornejo

Conversation in the Cathedral Mario Vargas Llosa

Aguaruna Adventures Anonymous

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