Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos

Since the publication of Our Word Is Our Weapon-which Publishers Weekly described as "strong as dignity and as subtle as love"-Mexico's enigmatic Zapatista leader has written some of his most brilliant and complex works. From a retelling of indigenous myths and legends, to visions of the future of Mexico, from searing critiques of the US war in Iraq, to clandestine radio broadcasts from the jungles of Chiapas, here is an amazing selection of writing that gives voice to the literary and poetic genius of Latin America's greatest living writer and rebel.

""Our Word Is Our Weapon" crystallizes the passion of a rebel, the poetry of a movement and the literary genius of indigenous Mexico."--Martin EspadaThis original and historic CD, recorded on location in Chiapas, Mexico, features the internationally renowned, yet enduringly enigmatic, Zapatista leader Subcomandante Marcos, reading selections from his most urgent and poetic works. Marcos recites--for the first time in English--his visionary allegory, "To Plant the Tree of Tomorrow," and other masterly writings that have earned him a place as "one of the most remarkable minds of our time." Subcomandante Marcos is the author of several books, including the acclaimed children's book "Story of the Colors" and "Our Word Is Our Weapon: Selected Writings of Subcomandante Marcos."

In this landmark book, Seven Stories Press presents a powerful collection of literary, philosophical, and political writings of the masked Zapatista spokesperson, Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos. Introduced by Nobel Prize winner Jos Saramago, and illustrated with beautiful black and white photographs, Our Word Is Our Weapon crystallizes "the passion of a rebel, the poetry of a movement, and the literary genius of indigenous Mexico." Marcos first captured world attention on January 1, 1994, when he and an indigenous guerrilla group calling themselves "Zapatistas" revolted against the Mexican government and seized key towns in Mexico's southernmost state of Chiapas. In the six years that have passed since their uprising, Marcos has altered the course of Mexican politics and emerged an international symbol of grassroots movement-building, rebellion, and democracy. The prolific stream of poetic political writings, tales, and traditional myths that Marcos has penned since January 1, 1994 fill more than four volumes. Our Word Is Our Weapon presents the best of these writings, many of which have never been published before in English. Throughout this remarkable book we hear the uncompromising voice of indigenous communities living in resistance, expressing through manifestos and myths the universal human urge for dignity, democracy, and liberation. It is the voice of a people refusing to be forgotten the voice of Mexico in transition, the voice of a people struggling for democracy by using their word as their only weapon.

A passionate and uncompromising collection of writings by the Mexican revolutionary reveals the deeply philosophical, poetic, and humorous aspects of this new insurgent movement in Latin America. (Current Affairs)