Ebook Revival History of the Conquest of Mexico With a Preliminary View of the Ancient Mexican Civilisation and the Life of the Conqueror Hernando Cortes Routledge Revivals William H Prescott John Foster Kirk Books

Product details Series Routledge Revivals Paperback 762 pages Publisher Routledge; 2 edition (February 2, 2019) Language English ISBN-10 1138567833

Revival History of the Conquest of Mexico With a Preliminary View of the Ancient Mexican Civilisation and the Life of the Conqueror Hernando Cortes Routledge Revivals William H Prescott John Foster Kirk Books Reviews

• The author, writes this historical story as though he is standing next Herman Cortes in his journey to discover and seize new lands for Spain and the Roman Catholic Church (Christianity). The author loves Cortez and the violent journey he led. It was difficult reading for me as the writer graphically imposed upon a reader the horrific destruction of the "Aztec" people's in order to impose Christianity upon them and place the cross upon their lands. This is a historical accounting our history books should present. I was sickened and still I could not put this book down. I will most likely read it again and again as I share this book with history teachers and professors of history. Now, I fully accept the data identifying the death of 100 million Indigenous peoples by the invasion of the Europeans.
• I originally bought this as an e-book because it was so cheap (embarrassing admission!), and I thought I'd miss out if I didn't purchase it then and there. Well it was cheap, but I would only have missed out if I hadn't begun reading before I realised it was cheap because it was a very old book, reprinted. Prescott's style is very dated, and his expressions sometimes seem convoluted, but I really enjoyed it enormously - his storytelling is superb, and while he sometimes reveals his age with non-PC comments about native peoples and their gods, he never seems condescending. His efforts to accurately portray that most extraordinary, single-minded, confident, competent leader, military commander, politician, and rascal Hernando Cortes succeed beyond expectation. While deploring the long-term results of the conquest of Mexico, Cortes' achievement is breathtaking, and wonderfully described by Prescott from a perspective much closer to the events than we can readily muster today.
• I was surprised to see that the book was written in 1843, before the Mexican War. The author did not use much of the stilted language of that time and the book is easy to read. There are some words used which are now obscure, but the context is usually clear It a long book, but very complete with a lot of insight of the people involved and the times. I don't know if later research would change any of the story, but it is a good overall history.
• A very informative history of early discovery, and conquest of Mexico. This book is great for anyone interested in their cultural history, or a history buff whom is generally looking to expand overall knowledge of world history and or geography. The information also provides an in depth view and an opportunity to live vicariously through the eyes of an explorer, and world traveler seeking new lands, and interacting with new cultures or races of people regional to the area being explored for the first time.
• This is an invaluable history but there are several criticisms of Prescott's work about which the reader must be forewarned at the outset.
  
  His style is clearly dated but that style remains appealing in its language, constructions and erudition to this reader. Furthermore, for the modern reader Prescott is clearly limited to those primary sources that were available in the mid 19th C (Bernal Diaz, Cortes' own letters, various Codices, etc.) when the book was published in 1843. Perhaps most significantly, Prescott is clearly a captive of many of the prejudices of his era with regards to race, civilization and colonialism. Nevertheless, the story he tells is a riveting one and his grasp of the flora, fauna and topography of Mexico is astonishing. One emerges from this long at times tortuous recounting with a vivid picture of the personalities and intrigues of the participants.
• The author, in an admittedly dated style, gives a detailed story of how Cortes came back from the brink of defeat, over and over to finally triumph in a enormous bloodbath and conquer Mexico . I doubt if few people have any idea of what he went through... on the other hand, I doubt if many people have any idea what the Mexicans went through, which was far worse. In the book the reader roots for Cortes as he decimates a whole civilization, in the name of God.... Makes you wonder!!!
  Regardless, it is a detailed and fascinating story of perseverance in the face incredible odds.
• Even though this book was written in 1890, it is surprisingly even handed in this struggle between the dominant culture of Central America and a small group of adventurers led by Hernando Cortes. The author obviously admires the achievements of the Aztecs, despite the 20,000 human sacrifices annually made to their gods. The conditions of the Aztec nation which made it liable to collapse and the skill of Cortes are discussed. This story would not be believed if history had not instructed us it is true.
• The History of the Conquest of Mexico is a detailed, social, political, anthropological and virtual firsthand report and account of the conquest of Mexico. It is detailed, riveting, intellectually honest and exciting. Prescott provides a first class account that captures the tiniest bead of information and integrates it into the larger and at times international picture. Prescott is a terrific story teller, this is what the book is all about, a first class, first rate and virtual first person account of one of the most unlikely and extraordinary conquests in the history of civilization. -Bob Martin