Description
Book SynopsisEsperanza Speaks examines a century-long process of socioeconomic change in rural Panama through the experiences of one woman, Esperanza Ruiz, and four generations of her family. The intimate narrative shows how ordinary people, through their choices and actions, are affected by and, in turn, can affect how history unfolds. Readers see Esperanza’s family as both victims and protagonists in their own histories. Born into rural poverty with limited options, they still find small openings to try to improve their lives. Sometimes successful, sometimes not, they survive by drawing on their only abundant resource: each other. Based on twenty field visits over the course of fifty years, Esperanza Speaks is the result of a dedicated anthropologist’s long-term engagement with the individuals of a single community, and a beautiful example of ethnographic storytelling.
Trade Review"Rudolf’s combination of vivid storytelling, clear analysis, and relevant historical sidebars make the book a provocative, poignant discussion starter for early undergraduates." -- Marian Ahn Thorpe, Princeton University *
American Anthropologist *
Table of ContentsIllustrations Boxes Acknowledgments People You Will Meet The Ruiz Family: Kinship Chart Introductions 1. The Isthmus of Panama: Two Different Worlds (pre-1920s) 2. Childhood: As Soon as I Opened My Eyes (1920s–1930s) 3. Youth: I Could Always Quit and Go Home (1940s–1950s) 4. Adult: A Voice Meant to Be Heard (1960s–1980s) 5. Elder: Doors Open, Doors Close (1990s–2019) 6. Next Generations: Who’s Heading Home Again? (2019) Concluding Thoughts Notes Glossary Bibliography Index
