Catherine Julien's translation is remarkable for two reasons. Aside from its dual language presentation, it is one of a handful of historical narratives authored by native Andeans during the Spanish colonial period, and is a faithful translation of Titu Cusi Yupanqui's sixteenth-century history. . . . This invaluable source book features extensive annotations, facing page Spanish-English text, and an important introduction that explains the historical perspectives revolving around Titu Cusi's History. This work is highly recommended for classroom use.
Colonial Latin American Historical Review Titu Cusi Yupanqui's History of How the Spaniards Arrived in Peru offers a unique 'vision of the vanquished' that is not only the only story of the fall of the Inca state written by an Inca; it is also a son's effort to explain his father's defeat. For Titu Cusi was the son of Manco Inca, who welcomed the Spaniards into the Andes in exchange for their support in his claim to become the ruler of the Inca state following the deaths of his two brothers, Huascar and Atahuallpa, in the civil war that they fought with each other over the right to assume the royal fringe, or maska paycha, reserved for the ruling Inca. Catherine Julien's extensive research in Inca history and archaeology makes her uniquely qualified to offer us this dual-language edition of Titu Cusi's version of how the Incas lost Peru to a small gang of invaders from across the sea.
Karen Spalding, University of Connecticut Catherine Julien's introduction provides an excellent and comprehensive overview of the intricate historical circumstances that led to the creation of this text, including Titu Cusi's attempts to negotiate an arrangement with the Spanish authorities that would be advantageous to himself and his kinship group. Julien also offers an important perspective on the historical significance of Titu Cusi's narrative for the historiography of sixteenth-century Peru. . . . The Spanish transcription and the annotated English translation appear on facing pages, which facilitates a critical reading and reflection on the hermeneutical issues presented by both texts in translating Quechua concepts and grammatical structures. While the Spanish transcription follows eh sixteenth-century manuscript very closely (supplying only modern punctuation), the translation, though very accurate, places a premium on readability. Scholarly impeccable as well as palatable to the modern reader, this duel language edition makes an important contribution to critical and textual scholarship on Titu Cusi's text that will be invaluable for researchers, teachers and students of colonial Andean culture.
Ralph Bauer, Bulletin of Spanish Studies