In an astonishing work of scholarship that reads like an adventure thriller, historian Buddy Levy records the last days of the Aztec empire and the...
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Nov 12, 2011
Bjoernlars
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Buddy Levy was able to take the simple story of Hernan Cortes and Montezuma that I knew and greatly open it up into a complex, dramatic and detailed world. He was able to do this in a manner the made me feel like I was reading a book that was a hybrid of a novel and a history book. I learned a prodigious amount and was entertained at the same time. This type of writing was a lot more approachable than other historical authors such as David McCullough.
I loved all the bizarre facts More...
I loved all the bizarre facts More...
Oct 28, 2011
I really don't know what to think of this book. The author's use of adjectives in praise of Cortes gets tiresome really fast. How many ways can you say he was one tactical, ruthless mother fucker? Not that many, it turns out, since Levy calls him a "brilliant strategist" about a dozen times. Seriously, it ends up reading like the epithets in Greek epics, but instead of "grey-eyed Athena" it's "battle-hardened Spanish soldiers." These repetitions are grating not only
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Oct 05, 2011
Clint
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Books like this make me really wonder who is worse in the situations where some more advanced European group comes in and stomps the shit out of some barbaric cannibal child-sacrificing group.
This book was pretty good, it was actually written sort of like a novel, with lots of liberties taken by the writer with adjectives and the feelings of the people involved. But I don't think it's really meant to be an academic history book, more a history book for normal people like me, and t More...
This book was pretty good, it was actually written sort of like a novel, with lots of liberties taken by the writer with adjectives and the feelings of the people involved. But I don't think it's really meant to be an academic history book, more a history book for normal people like me, and t More...
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Aug 05, 2011
Urey
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If you have any interest at all in Aztec culture and the Cortez saga, this is the book to read. The author is a bit too empathetic with the Aztec culture of daily human sacrifices, totemic dismemberment, ritualistic blood-letting and cannibalism. I don't think it all that bad that Cortez ended the incomprehensibly vast killing and the ruthless preying on numerous "lesser" tribes as fodder to feed the ravenous Aztec appetite for human blood and flesh. On the other hand, his descripti
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Aug 14, 2010
Kurt
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I was looking for a way to augment lectures to my middle school social studies students and found this in B&N. Near the close of the school year, I found myself caught up in learning all I could about Cortes, the Conquistadors, and the Aztec civilization. I lucked out with this book as it provides a smoothly written history that reads like a novel. I was appreciative of that -- too many "histories" become tedious data dumps. No fun. This stuff is exciting ... and brutal. I was glad to
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Dec 19, 2011
Brendan
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My previous knowledge of Cortes' conquest of the Aztecs was based mostly on my middle school history class. From what I remember about that, Cortes and ~300 horse-mounted Spaniards with steel swords marched in to Tenochtitlan, were mistaken for Aztec gods, and then slaughtered everyone in sight.
As it turns out, it was much more complicated than that. There were not ~300 Spaniards, there were thousands. Although Cortes began with 500 or so, he continually received reinforcements fr More...
As it turns out, it was much more complicated than that. There were not ~300 Spaniards, there were thousands. Although Cortes began with 500 or so, he continually received reinforcements fr More...
Mar 11, 2011
Jennifer
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Wow! Exciting, edge of your seat reading. “Popular” history told narrative style, but supported with extensive research. An “I was there” kind of history, though by the end you’re certainly glad you weren’t. A wonderful book marred only by an occasional carelessness in the prose – facts are sometimes repeated within a page or two of one another, as though one instance was not removed when the other was inserted. But this happens infrequently and doesn’t spoil the pace of the story. As for that s
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Jun 19, 2011
Hans
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Epic read. Not necessarily this book in particular but the story of Hernan Cortes, it couldn't have been better if it were a work of fiction. It is incredible what this one man accomplished through sheer grit and force of personality. People can say what they want about him being the great white murderer of Aztecs and other natives, but you still have to tip your hat to what his pulled off. Besides its not like the Aztecs or natives were completely innocent either. They liked perfo More...
Feb 11, 2011
Chris
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I read this after watching Michael Wood's Conquistadors. Levy does a good group of capturing the time, and the book is engrossing. Levy doesn't romantize either group, and while he is sympathic to the Aztecs, he does seem to have some admiration for Cortes. In short, Levy tries to be as fair as he can be. He consulted both Spanish and Native sources. The focus is more on the founding of a modern idea than the evils of imperialism though he does present the evils of imperialism.
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Jul 02, 2009
Ryan
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Harsh, senseless world!! I never knew how meaningless man's pursuits could be until I read this book. Amazing in the sense of the ingenuity of Cortez and his army in conquering the Aztecs, but completely sad in the depictions and methods of destruction that the Spanish employed to make it happen. Although, the Aztecs where pretty bad themselves with their incessant human sacrifice, which was one of the reasons Cortez and his men felt obliged to do what they did - not to mention the GOLD!
Jul 05, 2011
Brett
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Stark, startling, and sobering. I found what I knew about Cortez prior to reading this book was almost nothing and massively over-simplified. And, what I know now is somewhat disturbing but supported by this book with a fidelity that will forever classify Cortez in my own mind as a brute and an at-any-costs conqueror, not much different than many of the other explorers of that era but someone I don't plan to congratulate in any future encounters.
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Jan 09, 2012
Tiffany
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I read this in preparation for my trip to Mexico City. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to anyone who doesn't like detailed descriptions of battles and bloody massacres, but I did learn a lot about Hernan Cortes, Aztec culture, and the political and environmental dynamics that facilitated the Conquest.
Aug 05, 2011
Ian
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Blow by blow (no pun intended) account of the almost complete annihilation of the sophisticated (unfortunately not in warfare, to their demise) Aztec civilisation by the viscious Spaniards and their native tribal allies. I envy those who discover this slice of history for the first time via this book, as it reads like a fantasy adventure novel, sure to fill one with amazement and wonder at the drama of it all.
Mar 18, 2011
Fara
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A fascinating look at how Cortes and his handful of conquistadors managed to take control of one of the largest empires on earth at that time. A fascinating personality study of Cortes the man, and of Montezuma, of what we can know of him.
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Jul 09, 2009
Brian
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This book was, perhaps, not so much amazing because of how well it was written (though it was, indeed, a well written and compelling work, especially for a history book), or how much research was done (though there are quite extensive footnotes and end notes, a Nahuatl pronunciation guide, maps, and fairly extensive bibliography), but more so because the story of Cortes' relentless and brutal conquest of the Aztec empire was something about which I knew nothing, yet relished learning about. I've
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Dec 06, 2010
Mati
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This true story of the conquest of the Aztecs blew my mind. It is so griping, wild, violent, and shattering as to only reflect the scope of empires crashing in who's wake we all still live. Cortes is Both hero and insatiably vicious.
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Jan 07, 2012
Zeljka
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When I was contemplating reading choices for my visit to Mexico, one fellow reader from the GR History Book Club recommended this book - and I am enormously glad I accepted the suggestion.
This book is really worth your time and effort if you really want to go in depth of the history of Hernan Cortes' conquest of the New World, because it depicts the fall of the Aztecs' Empire and the rise of the new power in the Mexico in extraordinary thrilling and non-biased way. With this work, I managed More...
This book is really worth your time and effort if you really want to go in depth of the history of Hernan Cortes' conquest of the New World, because it depicts the fall of the Aztecs' Empire and the rise of the new power in the Mexico in extraordinary thrilling and non-biased way. With this work, I managed More...
Jan 08, 2009
Jennifer
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This was a very interesting book and I feel like I learned a lot about a period in history I knew nothing about. The writing didn't complicate an already complicated subject and the glossary of names at the back helped when I got caught up in all the Aztec names. Interesting, bloody piece of work.
Mar 26, 2009
Angie
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A pleasant book for those unfamiliar with the subject, as I was. This title probably lost points for being "popular" history, but for me it was a good introduction to a period I know little about.
Feb 19, 2009
Melvago
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A sweeping and majestic history of a clash of civilizations that reshaped the New World. Lots of battles and informations about the Spanish conquistadors and the Aztec's and surrounding tribes.
Dec 10, 2008
Pam
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Great book! Very informative of not only military strategies used but also cultural/social climates of both the Spanish and the Aztecs. Easy to read compared to other historical books.
Aug 05, 2011
My favorite quote from Cortes, "My companions and I suffer from an affliction of the heart, that can only be cured with gold." Modern day criminals have nothing on this guy.
Sep 22, 2009
Sarah
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Conquistador details the complicated politics and alliances that allowed Cortes to defeat Montezuma. It also dispells some of the myths that surround this event.
Oct 07, 2008
Kevin
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This is is the second book -the first one was "The Broken Spears" - I have read on the Aztecs and Hernán Cortés. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in this amazing moment in history. It is written like a novel which helps keep your attention but is also very well referenced with extensive footnotes, appendices/xes, etc. giving you plenty of information to continue researching for yourself. Buddy Levy's descriptions really helped me visualize these amazing event
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Jan 27, 2010
Jason
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Well written and concise tales of Cortez in New Spain (Mexico). Very readable and enjoyable.
Nov 11, 2009
Chad
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I loved this book! Gripping story of the brilliant and controversial Spanish commander who brought an end to the Aztec empire and reshaped Mexico forever. Awesome descriptions of life among the Aztecs at their peak before facing destruction in the name of God, glory, and gold. I'm looking forward to more by this author!
Apr 20, 2011
Brian
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A great example of history writing: great prose, accurate in its facts, compelling, giving enough sense of the characters as people with limited judgment (though its hard not to dislike Cortes for his brutality and colonial arrogance).
Jan 09, 2012
B.
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A nice little narrative of Cortes' campaign against the native people of Mexico. There's not much analysis of the effects of the conquest, but the day-to-day descriptions of the negotiations, battles, and atrocities is pretty gripping.
Sep 30, 2011
Michelle
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Fascinating history. Lively prose. I highly recommend this to anyone interested or new to this time period and its history.
