Libros

Libro del mes: El mundo privado de los emigrantes en Indias

ES: Hace un año conocí a mi amiga Ruby, que me indujo al vicio de la genealogía y me hizo ver el gran abanico de antepasados que enriquecen a mi familia. Entonces encontré este libro.

José Luis Martínez se da a la tarea de analizar el archivo de cartas con las que los emigrantes a las Indias (como se conocía al continente americano) invitaban a amigos, parejas y familiares para unírseles en el Nuevo Mundo. Nos permite alejarnos del relato unilateral de nuestra educación oficial, que retrata al español como villano colonizador, y nos muestra el panorama de distintos matices: hombres y mujeres que llegaron en distintas circunstancias y que actuaron de diversas maneras, sin idealizar a nadie.

Vemos el testimonio de aquellos que se sienten solos, e imploran a sus parientes que los alcancen, ofreciendo a familiares lejanos sus herencias. Vemos a los muy devotos, que tratan a los indígenas con respeto. A los enamorados, que buscan reunirse con sus novias y desposarlas.

Narra el complejo trayecto de muchos para establecerse en determinada ciudad, los obstáculos y los periodos de tiempo que atravesaron aquellos con quienes formamos una cultura nueva, mestiza y rica.

Este libro es publicado por el Fondo de Cultura Económica y se puede adquirir en Amazon.

EN: A year ago I met my friend Ruby, who introduced me in the genealogy addiction and allowed me to see the wide range of ancestors that enrich my family. Then I found this book.

José Luis Martínez analyses the file of letters that emigrants to the West Indies sent to friends, partners and family members to invite them to the New World. This book allows us to distance ourselves from the one-sided account of the Mexican official education, which portrays the Spanish as the villain colonist, and shows us an outlook of varied nuances, without idealizing anyone.

We can see the testimony of those who feel lonely and beg their relatives to join them, sometimes offering their legacies to distant family members. There are also the very pious and devout, who treated the natives with respect. And those who are in love, and try to meet and marry their other halves.

The writer narrates the complex route that many had to do to stablish themselves in the new cities, the obstacles and long periods of time people had to go through, before we all together formed a new mixed and rich culture.

24 comentarios en “Libro del mes: El mundo privado de los emigrantes en Indias”

  1. Sounds like a very interesting book! I would love to read these immigrant letters. I think that official education nowadays often shows just the bad side of the colonization, perhaps because in the past the emphasis was on the positive one. But the truth is always complex. Immigrants who came to the Indies, North and South American brought their culture and this mix of cultures is what makes that part of the world unique. Take for example, Frida Kahlo, she was very proud Mexican but her father was German (something people don’t mention often). European culture is a part of both Americas, one way or another. The Europeans who arrived to Americans weren’t always colonizer villains, they were often just poor people in search of a home. Many people from my region (Dalmatia in Croatia) emigrated to South America when wine disease forced them to look for new jobs.

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  2. This sounds like a great story. I am always fascinated by stories of immigrants. My best friend is a genealogy researcher, I may have to recommend this to her. There are actually some links for genealogy resources that have been added to my link up today. won’t you stop by and join the link party, too!

    Shelbee
    http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com

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