From award-winning author, editor, and translator Ilan Stavans, comes a one-of-kind translation of the timeless, poignant poetry of the legendary Aztec ruler, Nezahualcoyotl.

A king, a warrior, and a poet, Nezahualcoyotl was a revolutionary leader far ahead of his time. Born in 1402, Nezahualcoyotl-meaning 'hungry coyote' in the Uto-Aztecan language of Nahuatl-led the city-state of Texcoco through its "age of enlightenment." He is remembered for having challenged long held beliefs, encouraged the development of modern ideas of education and morality, and cultivated critical alliances. His four decade reign is regarded as one of the most transformative and prosperous periods of the Aztec empire. Today, he is a legend in Mexico, seen as a mysterious, powerful, anticolonial figure.

This epic collection of songs and poems, full of grief and anguish, was originally written collectively by Nezahualcoyotl and members of his court in Nahuatl. Stunningly retold by renowned writer, editor, and critic Ilan Stavans, these seventeen powerful poems are now made available to English readers for the very first time. Lamentations of Nezahualcoyotl: Nahuatl Poems crafts a remarkable portrait of the life of the man who went from a young warrior in exile to one of the most important figures in Aztec history. Sorrowful and unforgettable, it is destined to become a classic.

Ilan Stavans is the publisher of Restless Books and the Lewis-Sebring Professor of Humanities and Latin American and Latino Culture at Amherst College. His books include On Borrowed Words, Spanglish, Dictionary Days, The Disappearance, and A Critic's Journey. He has edited The Norton Anthology of Latino Literature, the three-volume set Isaac Bashevis Singer: Collected Stories, and The Poetry of Pablo Neruda, among dozens of other volumes. He is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, Chile's Presidential Medal, the International Latino Book Award, and the Jewish Book Award. Stavans's work, translated into twenty languages, has been adapted to the stage and screen. A cofounder of the Great Books Summer Program at Amherst, Stanford, Chicago, Oxford, and Dublin, he is the host of the NPR podcast "In Contrast."

Cuauhtémoc Wetzka is an illustrator originally from Zongolica, recognized for his work that gives voice to childhood, the indigenous community and the richness of native languages. He has illustrated story books, posters, illustrations and cartoons for brands including Google, Apple, Cirque du Soleil's One Drop Foundation, and various publishers. His work has been exhibited in Argentina, Colombia, Guatemala, Spain, France, Estonia, Slovakia, Poland, Taiwan, Canada, Turkey and the United States.