Buried Secrets Sparknotes

In her ethnographic novel, Buried Secrets: Truth and Human Rights in Guatemala, Victoria Sanford studied the Guatemalan government genocide of the Maya villages and communities from the late 1970’s to the early 1990’s. She gives accounts of her research through stories, forensic data from the exhumation of a clandestine cemetery, testimonies of survivors, interviews with members of the Guatemalan government and military and conclusions analyzed from data collected. The books main topic is to uncover the truth of the genocide on the Maya people, from her research and testimonies of the survivors. Her research was conducted in Maya villages throughout Guatemala, from 1990 to 1997, with the help of her translator to set up interviews with survivors
Also, giving testimonies of the survivors and interviews with government officials and members of the military, which recounts the events of the genocide. The seven phases of violence (“phenomenology of terror”), which Sanford presents, gives a clear explanation of the how the violence took place. The structure of the book starts with a lengthy acknowledgement section dedicated to all that helped, including the people and survivors she met, the institutions that provided help with her research and the financial support she was given. Sanford gives a story of her research with the exhumation of the clandestine cemetery, while including numerous testimonies of survivors and interviews with government officials and military members. Then, she lays out the seven phases of violence (“phenomenology of terror”). Sanford takes all of the data and draws on several conclusions and analyzes the effects on Guatemala in later years. The structure of the book is effective in connecting with the reader and drawing emotion, by giving a visual connection from the stories told, and an emotional appeal with the truth telling testimonies of survivors. Everything is brought together and she analyzes the effects of the massacre. Sanford uses the forensic data from researching the clandestine cemetery, testimonies of survivors, interviews with officials and the seven phases of violence to support her