The Popol Vuh: The Mythic and Heroic Sagas of the Kichés of Central America

"The Popol Vuh: The Mythic and Heroic Sagas of the Kichés of Central America" by Lewis Spence is a deep look into the history and legends of the Kiché people of Central America. This book, written in the early 20th century, presents the Kiché's stories about how the world was created, their gods, and the adventures of heroes. It tells how gods like Hurakan and Gucumatz formed the Earth and tried to make humans, but failed with wooden figures. A big part of the story is about the hero twins, Hun-Ahpu and Xbalanque, who bravely fight the evil lords of the underworld. These tales show the importance of courage, change, and the fight between what is good and what is bad. The book ends with the beginnings of the Kiché people, mixing old stories with real history and showing how these stories helped create the Kiché culture.