Cortes: The Great Adventurer and the Fate of Aztec Mexico

How is this amazing book so hard to find online? My son had to write a paper on Cortes and we ordered this book to give him another source for his paper. After reading it for a week, he insisted that his dad and I read it. We were BLOWN AWAY by this story. We’ve all heard the Neil Young song, “Cortes, You Killer” and believed it. This book is written in a very scholarly and well-researched manner, which alone makes it sound dry and boring, but the story is SO UNBELIEVABLE AND MIND BLOWING that you find yourself shaking your head and wondering if all this could have happened. Well, it did. And anyone looking for a crazy-engaging, true story must read it.

The author was born in Spain, lived in Mexico, and had access to all the historical records. Not written in the dry, dullard style of a history book. A real eye opener. What Cortes accomplished was one of the greatest adventures in human history. Cortes and his men should have been utterly destroyed on hundreds of occasions. You'll get pulled right in. In a word...unbelievable!!

I read this book in spanish years ago and I love it ! I bought this version in english for my 13 years old daughter she loved it too!Excellent in describing the people culture geography and historical events in central america on Cortez times.The author makes note of all accounts describing even the smallest details, with much effort put in the research.Very entertaining and overall very well written!

I have read the other reviews of this book. They are accurate, to a point. However, the author is so directed at redeeming Cortes, at salvaging his reputation from the "Black Legend," that he omits the valid reasons why that "Legend" has such terrible, strong and deep roots. Additionally, there are important omissions directly impacting the life story of this man. In the author's discussion the expedition to Honduras, he ignores how a large group (not merely 3) of Mexica nobility were decimated and that effect upon their dream of evicting the invaders. Cortes is portrayed as loyal husband, with only peripheral mention his other native relationships except for the Lady Malinche, most notably his love of Moctezuma's surviving daughter, Isabel, and how the people responded when seeing them together. The extensive level of native depression for years following the conquest, juxtaposed with the miracle and stimulus of the Virgin of Guadalupe, occurring shortly before Cortes' return from Spain in 1531, is similarly ignored, as is Bishop Zumaraga's Inquisition and is impact. Perhaps the story is simply too amazing, too complex, for one volume. Yet within its limits, and accepting the need of an apologist for Cortes, the author has amassed considerable well-researched factual detail into a very fine narrative centered upon the Primero Conquistador whose remarkable deeds defined all others.

Criminally out of print, this is nominally a biography of Cortes, but the vast majority of this book focuses on his expedition. This is the kind of story that is too incredible to be fiction, it could only be the product of real people and real events. There are other versions of this tale of course, but this is among the best if you can get a hold of a copy. It is simply absurd that the book is no longer available new, but there are used copies floating around -- get one. This book will glue you to your chair.

It's well written. Clear. Feels balanced. I teach US History and I really liked this work on Cortez.

Well researched, well written. What we were taught in junior high is again shown to be faulty by the simplistic teachings. Cortes and the Spaniards were not viewed as either God like or monsters on 4 legs as was taught in school. There was a legend, yes, but the Aztecs saw through that. The Aztecs had subjugated many of the tribal nations and levied both high taxes and a large segment of the population to be sacrificed at the alter. The Aztecs differed from the Mayans in this regard. The Aztecs sacrificed thousands brutally. The Mayans viewed the sacrifice as an honor. While this is too foreign for us today, there was a difference then and that the Aztecs demanded thousands more sons monthly to sacrifice did not lead to enduring alliances, which allowed Cortes to win allegiances.Cortes created alliances with the other tribes and after diplomacy broke down, conquered the Aztecs. The alliances with numerous tribes stayed in force until the Mexican Revolution in the early 1800's.Interesting book on the politics of Spain, Cuba, and other areas. Interesting insights into the local leaders, both Spaniards and Indians.I like this book. also. because the writer put his own thoughts into the writing. Insights into the diplomacy, the spiritual warfare/development, of the other Spanish personalities.

This author strives to be objective about Cortes and less portray him as a villain. The effort succeeds. The historic recitation of an old tale is fresh and feels new. The author provides a historical evenness which seems real and wholly useful.