60 pages • 2 hours read
Luis Alberto UrreaThe Hummingbird's Daughter
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2005A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Hummingbird's Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea is a fictional account set in late 1800s-early 1900s México, following Teresa Urrea, a woman with mystical powers and religious fervor deemed a living saint. Raised on a ranch by Tomás Urrea after being abandoned by her mother, she learns spiritual healing from Huila, while political turmoil and Indigenous struggles against the regime of President Díaz underscore her journey. The novel explores the coexistence of Catholic and Indigenous spirituality in Mexican culture. The book includes depictions of child abuse, violence against Indigenous people, violence against women, and violence committed by an oppressive political regime.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
The Hummingbird's Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea has been applauded for its rich historical detail and lyrical prose, vibrantly bringing to life late 19th-century Mexico. Critics appreciated the complex characters and spiritual themes. However, some found the pacing slow and the extensive detail overwhelming. Overall, it's a compelling historical novel for those patient with a slower narrative.
Who Should Read The Hummingbird's Daughter?
Readers who savor rich historical narratives and magical realism will find joy in Luis Alberto Urrea's The Hummingbird's Daughter. Fans of One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez or Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel will appreciate the profound blend of cultural mysticism and vivid storytelling.