I really enjoyed this book. It was my favourite kind - a long, detailed saga of a life, and all the lives and events affecting, and affected by, that life. This particular life is that of an “Aztec” - or in his own words, a Mexica native - in the 16th century.A few years after the Spaniards came and destroyed all their culture, the king decides he wants to know what their culture was like.

The story is told in the first person for the most part, as the man narrates his life while four Spanish scribes write it down, word for word, and the local priest sends it across the sea in periodical packets, with disclaimer letters.

Sometimes it gets funny - he’ll be speaking of his sex life or of blood sacrifices, and he suddenly gets cut off as the priest bursts out of the room in a huff. You never see anyone else’s words because the scribes only write down Mixtli’s, but his reactions make it obvious what’s happening, and why. I liked the writing and the story, especially with all the digs at the conquerers. It’s very tragic, highly informative, and entertaining.

Completed November 26, 2001