Manuscripts for Jalamanta : A Message from the Desert

For his novel, Jalamanta : A Message from the Desert, Rudolfo Anaya produced eight initial drafts, all of which are available here. The Rudolfo Anaya Papers collection also contains extensive early typed and handwritten notes, and a set of page proofs (not provided online). 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.


Jalamanta, Draft from Notes. (MSS 321 BC / B06-F16)

This is the very first typed draft of Jalamanta, which Anaya put together from handwritten notes in 1980. This early version is more of an outline, generally sketching the skeleton of the novel.

Jalamanta, Holographic and Typed Notes. (MSS 321 BC / B06-F17)

The collected early notes for Jalamanta, comprised of both handwritten and typed passages that together form a rough outline for the novel that would get published 16 years later.

Jalamanta, Holographic Notes, Partial Typescript. (MSS 321 BC / B06-F18)

An incomplete typescript of an early draft of Jalamanta, also containing handwritten editorial comments regarding the development of the story’s characters and themes.

Jalamanta, Edited Typescript, Through Page 121. (MSS 321 BC / B06-F19)

This is a mid-way draft in which the chapters are fleshed out and the story is fully developed. The manuscript contains handwritten editorial notes and corrections pertaining to the style and structure of the novel.

Jalamanta, Edited Typescript. (MSS 321 BC / B06-F20)

This is a mid-way draft in which the chapters are fleshed out and the story is fully developed. The manuscript contains handwritten editorial corrections and suggestions concerning the themes and the structure of the novel.

Jalamanta, Edited Typescript. (MSS 321 BC / B06-F21)

An edited draft of Jalamanta, dated March 1994. The manuscript is fully developed, and the marginal editorial notes focus on unifying and cohering the novel’s plot and themes.

Jalamanta, Revised, Edited Typescript, (MSS 321 BC / B06-F22)

This draft of Jalamanta, dated June 1994, is a revised manuscript that incorporates previous edits. The typescript contains new editorial corrections and minor suggestions.

Jalamanta, Edited Typescript. (MSS 321 BC / B06-F23)

This draft of Jalamanta shows the novel in its more advanced stages of development, with minor stylistic and structural edits.

Jalamanta, Typescript. (MSS 321 BC / B06-F24)

This draft of Jalamanta, dated October 1994, shows the novel in its later stages of development. There are handwritten notes and comments concerning minor stylistic and structural changes.

Jalamanta, Revised Typescript, Heavily Edited. (MSS 321 BC / B06-F25)

A revised version of Jalamanta, dated November 1994. The draft shows the novel in its later stages of development, and the handwritten editorial notes feature minor stylistic and structural edits.

Jalamanta, Revised Typescript. (MSS 321 BC / B07-F01)

A revised draft of Jalamanta as the novel get close to publication. This manuscripts, which incorporates previous corrections and suggestions, contains minor handwritten edits.

Jalamanta, Original Manuscript for Publication. (MSS 321 BC / B07-F02)

This is the full and final draft of Jalamanta as it was submitted for publication to Warners Books in 1996. The manuscript contains editorial comments and corrections, mostly addressing minor language and style concerns.