Bless Me, Ultima is a novel written by Rudolfo Anaya in 1972. It follows the story of Antonio Marez y Luna, a young boy living on the outskirts of Guadalupe, New Mexico, during World War II. Antonio's life changes when an elderly cur and era named Ultima comes to live with his family and teaches him about life and faith. The novel has been widely praised for its exploration of themes such as religion, identity formation, coming-of-age struggles, and cultural conflict between Native American and Hispanic cultures. In addition to being recognized for its literary merit (winning several awards, including an ALA Notable Book Award), it has also become part of popular culture—being adapted into both stage plays and films over the years since its initial publication.
The narrative structure of Bless Me, Ultima reflects many elements from traditional Chicano literature: magical realism; integration of Mexican folklore; use of Spanish words and phrases; focus on spiritual healing through naturalistic means; emphasis on familial relationships; reflection upon various aspects of social justice issues within Latinx communities (e.g., racism). These components combined to create an intimate portrait that resonates with readers who identify with similar experiences or seek out stories featuring characters they can relate to—ultimately making this work an important contribution to literature overall.