Leyendes de Guatemala

Leyendes de Guatemala or Legends of Guatemala, which is Miguel Asturias? first major work, depicts the Mayan civilization before the Spanish conquered the land. This novel brought him significant praises in France and Guatemala as well. Asturias used the elements of magical realism to tell several stories in the novel. Moreover, he applied both lyrical prose and conventional writing to tell a story about birds and animals communicating with typical human beings. According to Gerald Martin, the novel is the first most important anthropological contribution to the Spanish American literature. The book was also described by Jean Franco as a lyrical recreation of the Guatemalan legends and traditions inspired by the pre-Columbian and colonial foundations.