Review by Choice Review
The Aztecs and their neighbors in Mexico created books with highly conventionalized symbols and scenes depicting humans and deities, painted on long screen-fold strips of bark paper or animal skin. Few of these survived destruction during the Spanish conquest that began in 1519. However, for expedient reasons, certain priests had native artists copy and thus preserve some of these codices, even adding explanatory annotations. This work, a beautiful color facsimile, is a remarkable example of such a codex. It was painted in 1553-55 on European paper by two Aztec artists who copied earlier native books, following the original pictorial style but leaving room on the pages for explanations in Spanish script, added over the next several years. It includes a ritual calendar, an almanac for divination, and a 400-year history that ends with postconquest cultural changes up to 1557. With outstanding scholarship, Qui^D nones writes clearly and attractively, interpreting the work in the broadest context. She is so thorough that the codex viewer soon understands the contents and the system of "reading" the pictorial images and symbols. A worthy library acquisition, for the codex itself as art and for understanding pre- and postconquest Mexican history from the native viewpoint. All levels. K. A. Dixon emeritus, California State University, Long Beach
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
