Odyssey of Courage: The Story of Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca

by Maia Wojciechowska

Library Binding

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Maia Wojciechowska was born in Warsaw, Poland in 1927, and later lived in France and England. Eventually, her family moved to the United States.

A writer of books for young readers, in 1964 Maia Wojciechowska wrote the book "Shadow of a Bull", which was named the Newbery Medal winner in 1965.

In 2002 she died of a stroke in Long Beach, New Jersey. She was seventy-four years old.

Reviews

[Karen Witzler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intended for a 1960's high school library audience and a wonderful introduction to the Narvaez expedition and the long survival journey of Cabeza de Vaca and Estebanico.

[Justinian]

2009-09 - Odyssey of Courage; The story of Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca. Author: Maia Wojciechowska. 182 pages. 1965

I had read the journals of Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca when I was in High School. The translation was not that effective. I had picked this book up at a library book sale almost ten years ago and have carried with me since then, unread. While reading a book which contained graphic descriptions about the US invasion of and retreat from Canada in 1775-1776, I was inspired to re-visit the epic trek of de Vaca.

This book is a breezy description of the de Vaca’s epic trek from Tampa Bay, Florida across the southern United States to the Gulf of California in western Arizona and down to Mexico City, Mexico. But unlike his journals, this book follows him back to Spain and from Spain to Paraguay and back to Spain and his eventual death. So unlike his more well known journals this book covers his entire professional career even giving a brief description of his career in Italy.

This book is perhaps a good introduction to the Narvaez Expedition and the issues of settlement in South America. More serious students can use it as a jumping off point for more in depth investigation. What the casual reader gains by starting with this book is that the author has included modern names and spelling of the various ethnic groups/tribes and locations and geographical landmarks. This makes the story of de Vaca accessible to the modern reader who will be unfamiliar with Spanish descriptions of people and places.

There is in this book a strong undercurrent of Christian faith. This faith seems to grow in de Vaca and color the choices he makes which puts him directly at odds with the established local Spanish authority. There is a great deal of humility in de Vaca, saint like in his suffering and insight. He has the courage to stand by his convictions and beliefs even when it could cost him his life. That religion was important to him will be of no surprise but the form and influence of that faith may surprise some readers who are unfamiliar with the efforts of the Roman Catholic Church to shape policy in the New World for the benefit of the natives.

This book is breezy and it alludes to deeper themes and questions without becoming bogged down in the minutiae. It serves as an excellent introduction and as a thought provoker. The story of the clash of civilizations in the New World is more amazing in its reality then many science fiction or fantasy books.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of a hagiography in the strict sense, but pretty well written. A fascinating dude, to be certain.