NEW — WALKING WITH EVARISTO by Christian Nill (Guatemala)

“To do the thing that was necessary — wasn’t that at the heart of our mission? And wasn’t it obvious what we needed to do? Plant trees; teach others to plant trees; save the crops from the inexorable forces of erosion.  . . .  but was that the only task that would be needed of us?”

Christian Nill (Guatemala 1978–82)

Walking with Evaristo is a gripping journey — at turns lyrical, occasionally boisterous — venturing deep into the heart of a breathtakingly beautiful country torn by strife. And as the story unfolds, it also becomes a radical exercise in the recovery of personal memory.

Nill chronicles three turbulent years working as a Peace Corps volunteer in a deeply traditional Mayan community that fell under the shadow of the sinister forces of oppression. Immersing his readers in the vibrant tapestry of life in a town called Rabinal, the author gradually becomes a witness to Guatemala’s escalating civil war — and a brutal counterinsurgency campaign that could only be called genocide.

Through his intimate reflections as an environmental professional and as a witness, Nill confesses his shortcomings while at the same time forcing us to think hard about America’s role in perpetuating the conditions of oppression. Prepare to be immersed in a thought-provoking odyssey that intertwines the personal and political. Walking With Evaristo is a poignant memoir that will forever change how you perceive the world.

 • • • 

Peace Corps memoir

Walking with Evaristo: A Memoir of Celebration and Tragedy in the Land of the AchÍ Maya
Christian Nill (Guatemala 1978–82)
Peace Corps Writers
May 2024
383 pages
$16.99 (paperback), $9.99 (Kindle)