Manuscripts for Rio Grande Fall

For his novel, Rio Grande Fall, Rudolfo Anaya produced multiple initial drafts, 17 of which are available here. These include both hand- and typewritten drafts and notes for the novel. There are also three manuscripts for publication which are not provided here. All of the original manuscript documents are in the collections of the Center for Southwest Research at the University of New Mexico Libraries. The complete collection finding aid is available on the Rocky Mountain Online Archive (RMOA) Website.


Rio Grande Fall, Typescript and Holographic Notes, Pages 1-113. (MSS 321 BC / B07-F05)

The first rough draft of Rio Grande Fall, which Anaya began working on in Bellagio, Italy, in September of 1991. This is an incomplete manuscript that is not fully developed. It contains some handwritten notes and edits.

Rio Grande Fall, Typescript, Slightly Edited, Pages 1-157 (Part 1 of 3). (MSS 321 BC / B07-F06)

This is the first part of an early version of Rio Grande Fall. This early manuscript, completed in September of 1993, shows fully developed chapters and contains some minor edits and a few handwritten comments.

Rio Grande Fall, Typescript, Slightly Edited, Pages 158-326 (Part 2 of 3). (MSS 321 BC / B07-F07)

This is the second part of an early version of Rio Grande Fall. This early manuscript, completed in September of 1993, shows fully developed chapters and contains some minor edits and a few handwritten comments.

Rio Grande Fall, Typescript, Slightly Edited, Pages 327-469 (Part 3 of 3). (MSS 321 BC / B07-F08)

This is the third part of an early version of Rio Grande Fall. This early manuscript, completed in September of 1993, shows fully developed chapters and contains some minor edits and a few handwritten comments.

Rio Grande Fall, Revised Typescript, Pages 1-190 (Part 1 of 3). (MSS 321 BC / B07-F09)

This is the first part of a mid-way draft of Rio Grande Fall. The revised manuscript was completed in December 1993, and incorporates edits from the previous version.

Rio Grande Fall, Revised Typescript, Pages 191-385 (Part 2 of 3). (MSS 321 BC / B07-F10)

This is the second part of a mid-way draft of Rio Grande Fall. The revised manuscript was completed in December 1993, and incorporates edits from the previous version.

Rio Grande Fall, Revised Typescript, Pages 386-537 (Part 3 of 3). (MSS 321 BC / B07-F11)

This is the third part of a mid-way draft of Rio Grande Fall. The revised manuscript was completed in December 1993, and incorporates edits from the previous version.

Rio Grande Fall, Edited Typescript, Editing, Correspondence by Susan Bergholz, Pages 1-147 (Part 1 of 3). (MSS 321 BC / B07-F12)

The first part of an edited draft of Rio Grande Fall from early 1994. The manuscript is edited by Susan Bergholz, Anaya’s literary agent. It contains a typed letter from her, and handwritten notes concerning plot and character development as well as mechanical and organizational issues.

Rio Grande Fall, Edited Typescript, Editing by Susan Bergholz, Pages 148-362 (Part 2 of 3). (MSS 321 BC / B07-F13)

The second part of an edited draft of Rio Grande Fall from early 1994. The manuscript is edited by Susan Bergholz, Anaya’s literary agent. It contains a typed letter from her, and handwritten notes concerning plot and character development as well as mechanical and organizational issues.

Rio Grande Fall, Edited Typescript, Editing by Susan Bergholz, Pages 363-537 (Part 3 of 3). (MSS 321 BC / B07-F14)

The third part of an edited draft of Rio Grande Fall from early 1994. The manuscript is edited by Susan Bergholz, Anaya’s literary agent. It contains a typed letter from her, and handwritten notes concerning plot and character development as well as mechanical and organizational issues.

Rio Grande Fall, Revised, Re-Edited Typescript, Pages 1-254 (Part 1 of 2). (MSS 321 BC / B07-F16)

This is the first segment of a draft completed in November of 1994, which incorporates edits from the previous round of editing by Anaya, agent, Susan Bergholz. The rearranged manuscript is edited again here, with further suggestions for improving the flow of the story and the language.

Rio Grande Fall, Revised, Re-Edited Typescript, Pages 255-462 (Part 2 of 2). (MSS 321 BC / B07-F16)

This is the second segment of a draft completed in November of 1994, which incorporates edits from the previous round of editing by Anaya, agent, Susan Bergholz. The rearranged manuscript is edited again here, with further suggestions for improving the flow of the story and the language.

Rio Grande Fall, Re-Revised Typescript,Pages 1-216 (Part 1 of 2). (MSS 321 BC / B07-F17)

The first segment of a mature version of Rio Grande Fall. The re-revised manuscript is fairly clean and contains only minor edits.

Rio Grande Fall, Re-Revised Typescript, Pages 217-447 (Part 2 of 2). (MSS 321 BC / B07-F18)

The second segment of a mature version of Rio Grande Fall. The re-revised manuscript is fairly clean and contains only minor edits.

Rio Grande Fall, Revised Typescript, Holographic Notes, Pages 1-166 (Part 1 of 3). (MSS 321 BC / B08-F01)
Rio Grande Fall, Revised Typescript, with Holographic Notes, Pages 1-166 (Part 1 of 3). (MSS 321 BC / B08-F01)

This is the first part of a fully revised, mature draft of Rio Grande Fall, completed in July of 1995. The manuscript is fairly clean, containing only minor proofreading edits, and appears to be close to the final, published version of the book.

Rio Grande Fall, Revised Typescript, Pages 167-360 (Part 2 of 3). (MSS 321 BC / B08-F02)

This is the second part of a fully revised, mature draft of Rio Grande Fall, completed in July of 1995. The manuscript is fairly clean, containing only minor proofreading edits, and appears to be close to the final, published version of the book.

Rio Grande Fall, Revised Typescript, Pages 361-454 (Part 3 of 3). (MSS 321 BC / B08-F03)

This is the third part of a fully revised, mature draft of Rio Grande Fall, completed in July of 1995. The manuscript is fairly clean, containing only minor proofreading edits, and appears to be close to the final, published version of the book.