Linda Schele
[buzzsprout episode=’14416731′ player=’true’]
Linda Schele was the most influential Mayanist of her time – some would say of all time. Ed had the good fortune to be counted among her graduate students. In this episode, he’ll tell you some stories from his time with her.
Show Notes:
Edgewalker – A Conversation with Linda Schele. A 1998 film by Andrew Weeks:
https://www.mesoweb.com/features/Edgewalker/Edgewalker.alt.html
MAM – a wonderful organization supporting Maya people regaining the hieroglyphic script of their ancestors:
An obituary for Linda from David Freidel:
Ed – Thanks much for this episode. Having heard your many references to Linda Schele in your Great Courses and podcasts and having read a couple of her books, I was always very curious about her. I enjoyed your thoughtful reflections about her.
Thanks Mark!
Beautiful, Ed. Professor Schele would be very proud of you and your work!
The interview is very interesting, too, but could have used some fleshing-out narration for those of us unfamiliar with some of the people and projects she referred to.
I wish someone had done a detailed oral history of that legendary first Palenque roundtable while the key participants were still around. I stumbled upon your interview with Peter Mathews–very informative. Maybe do some interview podcasts? Probably more work on your part, but the conversations would be fascinating.
Thanks Larry! Its not complete, but Michael Coe did a nice job describing the first Palenque Round Table in his book “Breaking the Maya Code”. Maybe I’ll do interviews some day, but for now I’m enjoying my complete autonomy 🙂
Nicely done, Ed, and very touching. I’m glad to get a glimpse of Schele as a person.
Thanks Sheila!
Que linda! Yes, I am an edgewalker. I take the phrase, que linda, and expand it to be wonderful, marvelous, awe inspiring. I love the fact Doctor Schele is Linda. It plays well together as she IS the embodiment of, que linda.
Her conversation was heart felt and quite sacred. Although we never met, I miss her.
Wow, she sounds like an absolutely amazing person. I laughed out loud a few times at some of the stuff she said or did – I think I would have really liked this lady! Thank you Ed for sharing your reminiscences of Linda. It’s easy to see what an influence she was on you and many others.
Thanks Daphne!
Ed,
this was a wonderful show i found this pod cast a few weeks ago and listen to and from work since. keep up the good work.
Thanks Brian! I’m glad to hear you like it. Please tell your friends! Ed
Ed, You have brought back a lot of memories!
I first met her in the 1980’s in Fort Worth at her Forest of Kings at Fort Worth Kimble Museum and she stood out in the who room!
The last time that we met here was here in Houston in 1995 for her lecture.
After her lecture was over, Linda set down on the stage and talk to my wife and I about different Mayan topics.
She wanted my necklace and I decided to give it to her the next time that I saw her but never got to see her again.
So I gave it to the next best person!
She was a great lady.
Thanks Haden! I still have that necklace. A wonderful gift from a nice guy.
Thank you for the link to Edgewalker. I have read and enjoyed three of her (collaborative) books. In addition to teaching me Mesoamerican history, they took me into past and present worlds of real people. Listening to her adds another dimension to those worlds. I see why you wanted to study with her.