This book combines anecdotes of travel with commentary on the Spanish Colonial Heritage of Colombia. The travel took place in 1975 on a sabbatical leave when Curran and traveling companion, his wife Keah, spent several months in Colombia. The chapters follow chronological time, places and events of the trip: Medellín and Santa Fé de Antioquia; Bogotá and environs; Girardot, Cali, Popayán and Silvia in the West and South; the Archeological Site of San Agustín; Boyacá State as seen in Tunja, Villa de Leiva and other smaller towns; Cartagena de Indias, and finally, Isla San Andés, the “Microcosm of the Caribbean.” The book delineates important aspects of the colonial heritage: religious, residential and military, of four centuries of colonial and national life. It also emphasizes colorful and at times humorous vignettes of travel and comments on local life and events. The tale is told in an informal way, Curran relating all as if in a conversation with the reader. The book is richly illustrated with images from the travels.
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Curran's Cordel Connection
45 Years of Cordel Studies
Uma Vida de Cordel!
Welcome ["Bemvindos"] to Professor Mark Curran's web page on the folk-popular poetry from Brazil's Northeast. "Cordel" is the short term for what we call the "Literatura de Cordel" or "String Literature" with roots in 17th and 18th century Portugal and the folk-popular tradition from other European countries, especially Spain and France. This page's first purpose is to INTRODUCE you to "cordel," to explain its ROLE, its VALUE and its STATUS in Brazil today.
Mark Curran, Professor Emeritus from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, and now teaching part-time, has dedicated his entire academic career of forty-five years to collection and research on "cordel" and its place in Brazilian culture and history. He would like to share this research and experience with you, therefore the second purpose of "Curran Cordel Connection" is to tell you of his many BOOKS on the subject and how to obtain the books.
Therefore in the sub-section BOOKS you will find a cover illustration of each book, a brief synopsis of the book, and how it can be purchased. The name and address of each publisher and the price of the book are included. In some cases older, out of print books can be obtained directly from the author at cost plus shipping.
Please consult the link VITAE to see all Professor Curran's writings on the "cordel," both articles and books, as well as professional activities.
The author welcomes interest in the "cordel" as well as his other writings and can be reached via his CONTACT PAGE. He welcomes correspondence in English, Portuguese or Spanish.
There are now hundreds of sites on the internet dealing with all aspects of "cordel." Using Google or any other good search engine, type in "a literatura de cordel" to see this vast wealth of information.
Finally, since man does not live by "cordel," alone, please click on HOBBIES for a list of some of the things Mark Curran likes to talk and read about and topics from his favorite courses taught at Arizona State. In particular see the new book THE FARM-GROWING UP IN ABILENE, KANSAS IN THE 1940S AND 1950S for an account of small town and farm life of that era when Curran reminisces about the family farm and the age of innocence, memories shared by many urban Americans today.
