Ilan Stavans with Jordan Salama: Lamentations of Nezahualcóyotl: Nahuatl Poems

Scholar Ilan Stavans and writer Jordan Salama discuss the recently retold songs and poems of Aztec king, poet, and warrior Nezahualcóyotl and his illustrious 15th century court.

This event will take place in person at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library on the 7th Floor.

Aztec king Nezahualcóyotl was a revolutionary far ahead of his time. Born in 1402, the ruler—whose name means “hungry coyote” in the Uto-Aztecan language of Nahuatl—led the city-state of Texcoco through its age of enlightenment. His four-decade reign was among the most transformative and prosperous eras of the Aztec Empire. Today he is a hero in Mexico, seen as a mysterious, powerful, anti-colonial figure.

Brimming with anguish and longing, this epic collection of songs and poems was composed by Nezahualcóyotl with members of his illustrious court. After six centuries, in a powerful retelling by Ilan Stavans with new illustrations by Cuauhtémoc Wetzka, twenty-two poems bring to life a young warrior and his journey from exile to historical legend. Sorrowful and unforgettable, Lamentations of Nezahualcóyotl will thrill readers of Latin American literature for years to come.

To join the event in person | Doors will open 30 minutes before the program begins. For free events, we generally overbook to ensure a full house. Priority will be given to those who have registered in advance, but registration does not guarantee admission. All registered seats are released shortly before start time, and seats may become available at that time. A standby line will form 30 minutes before the program.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Ilan Stavans is a leading Jewish Mexican scholar and critic, is Lewis-Sebring Professor of Humanities and Latin American and Latino Culture at Amherst College, the publisher of Restless Books, and a consultant to the Oxford English Dictionary. Translated into numerous languages, his books have been adapted into film, radio,  theater and television. Born in Mexico City, he has translated Jorge Luis Borges, Pablo Neruda, and Juan Rulfo into English, Emily Dickinson and Elizabeth Bishop into Spanish, Isaac Bashevis Singer from Yiddish, Yehuda Amichai from Hebrew, and Don Quixote of La Mancha and Alice in Wonderland into Spanglish. He hosted the syndicated PBS television show Conversations with Ilan Stavans. He is a cofounder of the Great Books Summer Program at Amherst, Stanford, and Oxford.

Jordan Salama is the author of two books and a contributor to The New Yorker, National Geographic, and other publications. His essays and reporting explore themes of migration, environment, and culture across the Americas. Salama is also the co-producer of "Qotzuñi: People of the Lake", a short documentary film officially qualified for the 2026 Academy Awards.

GET THE BOOK

• Borrow: NYPL Catalog


• This event will also include sales of the book by our Library Shop.

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ACCESSIBILITY NOTES

In-Person

• Assistive listening devices and/or hearing loops are available at the venue.


• You can request a free ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation or CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation) captioning service by emailing your request at least two weeks in advance of the event: email accessibility@nypl.org or use this Gmail template.


• This venue is fully accessible to wheelchairs.

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Please submit all press inquiries to Connor Goodwin at least 48 hours before the event: email connorgoodwin@nypl.org.
 

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All programs are subject to change or cancellation. All programs are subject to recording and photography.

The 7 Stories Up Series at SNFL is made possible by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).