Bless me, Ultima

A rich and wonderful story about the passage from childhood to adulthood, that reveals universal truths about the human condition and celebrates the beauty of Chicano culture. "Full of sensual dreams [and] inexplicable phenomena."--New York Times

Antonio Márez is six years old when the woman who helped birth him into the world comes to stay with his family in New Mexico. Revered by some as a miracle-worker and reviled by others as a witch, Ultima, a curandera or healer, opens Antonio's eyes to the spiritual roots of his culture and introduces him to a new, magical, sometimes terrifying world: a realm in which she operates as a shaman.

Suddenly, the ordinary challenges and triumphs of childhood become extraordinary. As Ultima shows Antonio how to cure ailments, reverse curses, and restore peace to those who have lost it, he embarks on a singular quest where he investigates the family ties that bind and separate him, questions the Catholicism that shaped him, and explores the Spanish, Mexican, and Native American influences that predominated not only his heritage, but also his sense of self. And, at every twist and turn of life, there stands Ultima, from the day he was born . . . to nurturing the birth of his soul.

Introduction by the Author - Foreword by Denise Chavez - Afterword by Carmella Padilla - Essay by Manuel Muñoz

A Grand Read from PBS Selection - The Big Read by the National Endowment for the Arts


Author: Rudolfo Anaya
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 09/17/2024
Pages: 320
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.60lbs
Size: 7.90h x 5.20w x 0.90d
ISBN13: 9781538770375
ISBN10: 1538770377
Language: Spanish
BISAC Categories:
- Fiction | Literary
- Fiction | Hispanic & Latino | General
- Fiction | Coming of Age

About the Author
RUDOLFO ANAYA (1937-2020) was one of the foundational voices of modern Chicano literature. A former professor at the University of New Mexico, he won numerous literary awards, including the National Quinto Sol Award for Chicano Literature, the 2007 New Mexico Notable Award, and the PEN Center USA West Award for Fiction. He was a lifelong advocate for Chicano voices and dedicated to supporting aspiring writers.