She was director of the Maison de l'Amerique Latine in Paris and of the Institut Cultural Français in Seville.
Menchu's story speaks to her experience as an indigenous woman, as well as atrocities committed by the Guatemalan military.
Menchú's story is considered one of the major texts of Latin American testimonios (testimonies).
In the text, Burgos also adds quotes from the Popol Vuh, the sacred book of the Mayans.
However, anthropologist David Stoll supports Burgos-Debray's contention that she paid all royalties to an organization identified by Menchú.