Basques And Vicunas At The Mouth Of Hell

BASQUES AND VICUAS AT THE MOUTH OF HELL

More Than Sheepherders

In the remote community of Elko, Nevada, the Altube brothers and the Garats started fabled ranches in the early 1870s. These hardy citizens created the foundation of a community that still exists today, rooted in the traditions and cultures of American Basque families. Joxe K. Mallea-Olaetxe presents a modern study focused on the post-1970s, when the retired Basque sheepherders and their families became the dominant Americanized minority in the area. During this time, the Fourth of July National Basque Festival began to attract thousands of visitors from as far away as Europe to the small Nevada community and brought to light the vibrant customs of these Nevadans. This book explores the American Basques' present-day place in the West, bolstered by the collaborative efforts of four contributors, including two women--all who have been residents of Elko. The writers offer firsthand knowledge of their heritage through numerous vignettes, and these deeply personal perspectives will entice readers into Mallea-Olaetxe's singular and entertaining historical account.

The Lieutenant Nun

This volume contains the English translation of the seventeenth-century literary and archival materials about a Basque person who died under the name Antonio de Erauso (b. ~1580, d. 1650), bringing readers closer to an individual who could be considered a trans ancestor. Born into a noble family in San Sebastian, Spain, as Catalina de Erauso, Erauso lived most of their life as a man, serving as a soldier in Peru and Chile, and working as a muleteer in Mexico until their death in 1650. This book provides – for the first time – an English translation of texts related to Erauso: the contemporary play Famosa comedia de la monja alférez (The Famous Play of the Lieutenant Nun), contemporary Accounts (Relaciones) about Erauso, selected archival documents about Erauso’s Petition for a Pension to the Council of the Indies, and contemporary letters mentioning Erauso. This book presents early modern scholars working in English with new material essential to understanding the historical and literary figure of Erauso, and historical documentation that provides a glimpse into the terms Erauso (and others) seemingly chose for themselves.