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Bartolome Arzans Orzua y VelaBolivian chronicler, historian.
Country:
 Bolivia |
Content:
- Biographical Sketch of the Chronicler
- Historical and Literary Significance
- Precursor to Peruvian Traditions
Biographical Sketch of the Chronicler
Bolivian chronicler and historian, began writing his famous "Historia de la villa imperial de Potos?" (History of the Imperial City of Potosí), a task that was interrupted only by his death. His son completed the final chapters of the work. The rough draft of this work is found in "Anales de la Villa Imperial de Potosí," a text used throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. The first complete edition was published in 1965.
Historical and Literary Significance
Similar to the works of Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, Antonio de la Calancha, and Juan Eusebio Nieremberg, whom he mentions in his text, "Historia" stands out for its historical veracity and literary flair. It skillfully combines narrative techniques with legends, miracles, myths, and indigenous Andean beliefs. This interplay between the historical and the literary showcases the former grandeur of Potosí, which was once the world's largest city in terms of population. It also highlights the need to incorporate myth, a common device in Latin American literature.
Precursor to Peruvian Traditions
Mendizabal's work can also be considered a precursor to Ricardo Palma's "Tradiciones Peruanas" (Peruvian Traditions). Both works employ the literary device of the "tradición," which combines historical events, legends, and myths to paint a vivid picture of a nation's past.
