Introduction and Part One, Section 1 (through page 6) Summary and Analysis

The introduction begins with the author explaining, in first person, why he has decided to write the novel. Having been in the habit of telling his family anecdotes about the mountain village where he was born, he repeats one of these stories at a scholarly meeting. The story circulates among a small audience and it is suggested to him that he write a book. He cites two reasons for pursuing this suggestion, one historical and one psychological. First, he acknowledges the importance of his experience historically, since many families have migrated from small Mexican villages and landed in the United States. The psychological side is the author's desire to communicate his confidence in his self-image as a Mexican immigrant.

The story begins with a description of the physical characteristics...