Book Reviews

摘要

Vivid and colourful throughout, this book begins by locating Guatemala geographically, before moving on to interviews with 20 artisans who represent the breadth of skills associated with weaving traditional Guatemalan textiles - from spinning the yarn through to finishing the cloth. These men and women explain what it means to earn their living through textile production. Their personal stories are not romantic musings about the past - they are often shocking, touching and inspiring in equal measure. Through their craft they have found the strength and resources to overcome tragedy, both personal and national, and to feed and educate their children. Ever resourceful, their products range from the humble everyday item to intricate special occasion textiles. Well-placed informative pages throughout the book provide the reader with important social and cultural backdrops to the artisans and their textiles, as well as excellent explanations of techniques and tools.