Malinalli of the Fifth Sun: The Slave Girl Who Changed the Fate of Mexico and Spain
Helen Heightsman Gordon’s ambitious and rewarding new novel, Malinalli of the Fifth Sun, invites comparison with Gary Jennings’s bestselling hit novel Aztec, in its evocation of a lost kingdom, in this case the Mayan empire of sixteenth century Mexico, which has been invaded by Conquistador Hernan Cortes. The young Mexican girl, Malinalli, first comes to Cortes’ attention when he learns that she can speak both Mayan and the native Nahautl. He takes her as his slave and, once she’s learned Spanish, he uses her as his interpreter in his dealings both with the Mayans and with substantial groups of native peoples who hate Monteczuma.
Gordon’s novel unfolds with leisurely confidence, taking time to give readers a panoramic impression of Malinalli’s world. And Malinalli herself becomes more fascinating as a character the deeper she moves into Cortes’ confidences and slowly reveals herself to be every bit his equal in what we would now call geopolitical thinking. This is lavish and extremely convincing world-building. Highly recommended.
