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Customer Reviews (3)

Simply Outstanding!
I have meant to set down my thoughts of this scholarly work since it was first published and I'd the pleasure of its reading, but somehow time and opportunity slipped by.And yet, after studying the history of Mexico and Nuevo Mexico for these past 15 years or so, attempting to comprehend US History from the vantage of south heading north, this volume stands out, distinct and unforgotten from the rest, and most deserving of high praise.

For a Gringo attempting to comprehend Mexican history, of what became of our one-half and the resulting remainder, Santa Anna is the preeminent figure, and yet slandered, misunderstood, relegated to backwaters and blamed for all vanished glory.Mr. Fowler portrays him as the man of his times, an opportunist, great and tragic at once, and explains his life and times role in a manner that no other author I've read has achieved.Other figures who move out and in through Mexico's transmogrifying soul play their oft-changing roles, too, and IT, the history of that great nation, at last made sense.And through Mr. Fowler's study, which is more of a novel in holding one's interest, but pure history at its finest, ends with Santa Anna's death on the year of the US Centennial, one comes to comprehend what has occurred since with our Neighbor to the South.

Why I am am great man, by Santa Anna
Two points to consider: This biography is a very laudatory account of Santa Anna's life, and that Mr. Fowler is a Marxist Historian. It seems that Mr. Fowler, like many authors, has fallen for his subject and praises Santa Anna to the hilt. It may be that the madcap was the best Mexico had to offer at the time in the form of a politician, but considering the other individuals populating Mexican politics at the time--de Zavala, Alaman, Iturbide, and others--that is not a high threshold to cross. There are some nice nuggets of information in here and if you like a history that blames the Americans then this is your book. The sad part is that for a man who had such an over-arching influence on Texas, U.S., and Mexican History, no quality historian has written a multi-volume account of the generalissimo. That is a shame for American historians, and a damning indictment of Mexican historians.

Essential to Understanding "Los Años Olvidados"
At long last, a dispassionate, balanced biography of Antonio López de Santa Anna is available that is informed by the last thirty years of historiographical advances in nineteenth century Mexican history.Santa Anna of Mexico, written by Will Fowler, one of the leading Anglophone interpreters of nineteenth century Mexico, provides the reader with a new perspective that chips away at the barnacles of the Black Legend that for over 150 years have encrusted the "leader all Mexicans (and Texans) love to hate."

Faced with internal division as a result of provinces not yet fully integrated and external adversaries that lusted after territory and markets, Mexico's journey toward forging nation would be prolonged, painful and problematic. In Fowler's hands, Santa Anna emerges as a man of his time when Mexico was making this painful journey of trying to define herself as a nation and create a hegemonic state that could govern and at the same time defend its territorial integrity. Consequently, it was a time of experimentation or as Fowler states a time for varying proposals. During this "Age of Proposals", (for a detailed look at this era, see Fowler's Mexico in the Age of Proposals) Santa Anna was one of many struggling to find ways of assimilating heterogeneous cultures and integrating legitimate claims from Mexico's far-flung provinces under a suitable governing framework before they could construct a hegemonic state, construct (imagine) a unified social identity and truly forge a nation-state.

According to Fowler, Santa Anna was "not the power-crazed megalomaniac his critics made him out to be" and did not aspire to having absolute power.Instead, he was consistent in his popular nationalism with an anti-politics and anti-party stance, in which he tried to play the role of an arbitrator between the ever-disputing political elite. Santa Anna also emerges as a patriotic, courageous, albeit impetuous military man who loved his country and whose "personal corruption and alleged lack of principle differed little from that of many other successful generals and politicians."

A professor of Texas history once lectured that one cannot understand Texas history without understanding Mexican history. For those Texas historians who want to understand the events of the 1834 closure of congress, a congress that only had six days left in its legislative calendar, Fowler states that "[a]lthough Santa Anna was the elected president (1833-1836), he did not actually serve as president for more than a few months, making a mockery of the accusations that he was a tyrant or that he was personally responsible for the eventual change to centralism."What Santa Anna did do after the closure of congress was take emergency powers to dismantle the radical anti-clerical reforms that were adversely agitating the republic. But, Vicente Guerrero had already set a precedence of taking emergency powers during his presidency. Historians of Texas should heed that advice and enrich their understanding of the events of 1832-1836 by incorporating this excellent study as well as other recent works written by Mexican scholars into their studies instead of resorting to the dictator-tyrant typology that up to the present so many have done.

Fowler's judgment in the end is that Santa Anna "does not deserve to carry the full blame for everything that went wrong in Mexico following independence. His story, with all the contradictions, confusion, and pain that it entailed was one that reflected the traumas Mexico had to endure during the early national period to become a modern nation-state."

Combining a seventeen-year long research into the politics of independent Mexico and primary materials from municipal, state, regional and national (including the heretofore difficult to access military) archives, Fowler presents an excellent, scholarly yet accessible one-volume study of this much disparaged Mexican. This book is one of the essential studies to understanding what eminent Mexican historian, Josefina Vásquez, has termed, "los años olividados."
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Customer Reviews (11)

Nice keys, but some poor photos
I really like the keys to help identify out fish by spines, etc, but some of the photos are not good representations of the fish. I am glad I bought the book, but I supplement it with other "picture books"

Outstanding!
This is an excellent text for the professional (or near professional) to use in identification of fishes in the Gulf.It is NOT for the beginner, and if you are a beginner you will be disappointed due to the technical layout and terms in this book.Additionally, I think the artistic illustrations by Dinah Bowman are FANTASTIC, but of course I am slightly biased because she is my mother. :)

Fish Identification
The book is written for college study, however, the pictures are of less than good quality.Many of the fish were dead for quite awhile before photographed.This isn't the best source if you're looking for a book to help you identify fish of the Gulf.

Not for beginners, but good
Good for biologists and wanna be/soon to be biologist. Has useful fish species keys, pretty good key to families too, decent descriptions & definitions. Pictures of some species leaves something to be desired (especially some of the sharks, which turn out to be fish mounted on walls). Doesn't coverjuvenile differences well, but most people are looking at adults anyway.

South Texas
Good text book for classifing any fish found in the Gulf of Mexico by families, but not a quick picture reference book for identifying your catch. ... If the pictures had been better in "Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico". I would have given it a five stars rateing. ... Read more

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An intriguing collection of archival photographs from the late 1930s and 1940s, depictingwomen's lives in settings ranging from the railroad yards at Clovis to the homestead communityof Pie Town and from Taos County Hispanic villages to southern ranches.

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Historias de un jardin custodiado por un volcan de fuego y una mar oceanica; vislumbres de una tierra donde todo se da; testimonios de un pueblo que se reinventa continuamente. ENGLISH: Stories of a garden watched over by a fiery volcano and the boundless sea; glimpses of a land where anything will grow; accounts of a culture continuously being reinvented. ... Read more

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In New Mexico, the system of State Monuments was established on March 14, 1931 by the Act for the Preservation of the Scientific Resources of New Mexico. And so began 70 years of preservation and proctection of historic and prehistoric sites. Over the years, over 18 sites have been designated, more than any other state in the country. This book provides a brief history and overview of each of the monuments including Coronado (established in 1935), Jemez (established in 1940), Fort Sumner (established in 1968), Fort Selden (established in 1973), and Lincoln (established in 1976), as well as two 2005 designations: El Camino Real Heritage Center and El Bosque Redondo Memorial. Includes historical chronology, maps, and information for visitors. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Exciting histories of New Mexico
The book presents the basics of the complex histories of New Mexcio. From the anicent Anasazi to Billy the Kid, the book brings to life the reasons these places have been entitled monuments.
This would be a great text for a high school history class - and the field trips would engage the students. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Berler's version of The Conquest of Mexico
The Conquest of Mexico by Beatrice Berler

The conquest of Mexico is a century and a half years old, and William Prescott originally wrote it. His version now is translated in 20 different languages and appears in over 200 additions. Beatrice Berler wrote a version, originally a three-volume set, to introduce Prescott's work to the average person. Berler sums up her work in an easy to comprehend book. Berler started her history career fifty five year ago at Amherst Collage taking a history of Spain class that introduced the original Conquest of Mexico. Berler want the audience to understand Mexico's landscape, climate and food sources, which is interesting how different it is from ours. The author informs us why Mexico was so desirable to the Spaniards. Berler does a good job letting us know that the Aztecs were not savage Indians like in the northern territory. The Aztecs were civilized and were not just savage animals free in the woods, they had rules and morals, they were controlled by an elected ruler, and had a Government, This was new and interesting to me. I like the descriptive ways Berler states the way the Aztecs fight. It's interesting the warriors fought to take prisoners not to kill. Their armor was made of thick cotton, which was hardly penetrated, with the weak weapons of the time. Berler has us understanding the technology of both Mexico and Spain. The richer people wore gold and silver helmets and the rest wore wooden helmet shaped like animal heads. I think the author is clear about who the Aztecs were and where they lived. Berler describes the Spaniards and when they sailed the Atlantic Ocean. It's interesting that they first landed on Cuba and took captures and claimed it. I like how the author explains the progress of moving to the mainland and communicating with the Indians, both friendly and aggressive. She briefly and to the point sums up the battles and outcomes in a good organized manner. I like the way Berler talks about conversations of convincing the Aztecs to take up their Spanish customs. Spain's determination to speak with Montezuma is clever and her discussion is informative and exciting, but is confusing where some events are taking place, because the places are unfamiliar Spanish names. It's interesting how Berler explains Montezuma's thoughts of the Spaniards. I like the way Cortez plans to get his men to stay and help him with his plans. The plans are excellent and very clever. Cortez is very talented and know what he wants to do. He disguised his plans and make great progress. Berler discusses the Tascalans and discusses their custom, lifestyle, and relation with the Aztecs, which is neat. I like how Berler describes Spain's tactics of meeting the enemies of Montezuma and planning to deal with them. I like the details of Cortez's move through Mexico and how the Indians saw Spain. The author does a good job describing Spain's battle tactics fighting the Indians.It is amazing how many different Indian tribes wanted to kill them and how many wanted to join the Spaniards. Berler describes in good detail the plans for both Spain and the other tribes' ideas of fighting for their beliefs. The author informs us how the Indians betrayed Spain and goes in detail what the consequences were. Berler explain, in an interesting way, the Indians views of the Spaniards, and what they did to try to change those views. She describes, in good detail, The Indians villages and why the Indians had an advantage at home. I like the way Berler stated the advantages of not being as far with technology. Berler is discribing Spain's goals and meeting with the main ruler of the Aztecs. She discribes the way all the cities were designed and set up, it sounds very beautiful. She discribes the ideas of Spain and the customs of the Aztec's ruler. She warns us about the possible outcomes that face Spain's men in great detail. She interprets the conversations with the Indians leaders in small detail. She informs us through the book what Spain was planning. The author discribes in good detail the process of Spain trying to control the capital and how he made it work. The author goes in allot of detail about the way Spain controlled the capital. Berler tells us about the negotiations and the thoughts and feelings from both the Spanish and the Mexicans. The outcomes of the battles for the capital was amazing compared to the ratio of Spaniards verses Aztecs. The author does a good job describing the battles with the army of different villages all under Montezuma's rule. The book is clear that the Indians were not as far as advanced as Spain and looses allot of men, with the help of diseases brought by the Spanish. This book seems to me that it is mainly looking through Spain's point of view, I guess because most of the Indians documents were lost or destroyed. It makes Spain seem they were hardly penetrated and the Indians never had a chance. I think if the Indians had better war leaders they would have won. I can say that this book informed me on about 95% more information than what I had learned in my collage American History class, mainly because there is only one paragraph that talks about them. My teacher talk more about them but they aren't in the United States of America, so I guess are irrelevant in that class. Overall The Conquest of Mexico, by Beatrice Berler is a very good book. ... Read more

Product Description
In January 1921, after a decade of bloody warfare, Mexico's new government found an unlikely partner in its struggle to fulfill the Revolution's promises to the populace. An ambitious philanthropy, born of the wealth of America's most notorious capitalist, made its way into Mexico by offering money and expertise to counter a looming public health crisis. Why did the Rockefeller Foundation and Revolutionary Mexico get together, and how did their relationship last for 30-plus years amidst binational tensions, domestic turmoil, and institutional soul-searching?Transcending standard hagiographic accounts as well as simplistic arguments of cultural imperialism, Marriage of Convenience offers a nuanced analysis of the interaction between the foundation's International Health Division and the Departamento de Salubridad Pública as they jointly promoted public health through campaigns against yellow fever and hookworm disease, organized cooperative rural health units, and educated public health professionals in North American universities and Mexican training stations. Drawing from a wealth of archival sources in both Mexico and the United States, Birn uncovers the complex give-and-take of this early experience of international health cooperation. Birn's historical insights have continuing relevance for the rapidly evolving world of global health today.Anne-Emanuelle Birn is Canada Research Chair in International Health at the University of Toronto. ... Read more

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Women of the New Mexico Frontier, 1846–1912 is a collection of essays that include biographical sketches and writings from women of all walks of life who helped bring about the Americanization of the New Mexico Territory, from the Mexican War until statehood in 1912. These women were wives of missionaries, soldiers and military officers, and government officials who came from the eastern part of the United States. For this edition, Cheryl Foote has provided a new Introduction, which highlights information uncovered since the book’s original publication in 1990.

"Throughout, Foote does not shy away from sensitive topics, including alcoholism, domestic violence, and prostitution. . . . She has unearthed some women’s documents that were either unknown or have been overlooked, and she has encouraged others to delve into southwestern women’s history."—Glenda Riley, Alexander M. Bracken Professor Emeritus of History, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana

"Battered wives, Presbyterian missionaries, army laundresses—these are the people that Cheryl Foote presents in Women of the New Mexico Frontier. Even though she restricted her portraiture to Anglo-American women, Foote still found individuals about whom we usually know too little. For example, a particular strength of this book is the new dimension it brings to our understanding of army women."—The Journal of Arizona History

"Foote's book is based on careful research, and it brings to our attention the lives and work of obscure but nonetheless significant women."—The Western Historical Quarterly ... Read more

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Tedious
This book was unintresting from the start. It was required reading for one of my many history classes. At best an average micro level history of the topic with good primary sources. ... Read more

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Mexico comprises 32 diverse states, and this reference is the first to succinctly profile each. Each chapter devoted to one of the states provides a contemporary snapshot of the most important information to know about the state, with essay sections on its characteristics, flora and fauna, cultural groups and languages, history, economy,social customs, arts, noteworthy places, and cuisine with representative recipes. Familiar and noteworthy names in Mexican culture are highlighted in the applicable sections. The format is perfect for students studying Spanish and travelers and general readers wanting a different angle from that provided in guidebooks and more authoritativeness than they can offer.Readers learn about thepulsing metropolis of Mexico City to the jungle isolation found in the Yucatan Peninsula.

Considering the huge political, social, and economic focus on Mexico and the number of Mexican immigrants in the United Status today, Americans need to know more about Mexico and the homeland of these new immigrants. Make this one of the sources you recommend to your patrons to get a quick yet substantial feel for the states and their people. A map and photo accompany each chapter, and the volume contains a chronology, glossary, and selected bibliography.

Product Description
Land grant disputes from the nineteenth century have divided and embittered some people for most of the twentieth century. In an attempt to bring final resolution to lingering controversies in New Mexico and throughout the West, in 2000 the U.S. Congress pledged to review disputed claims in the next few years.

The Pecos Grant is illustrative of legal and administrative wrangling over land grants. To ensure that a U.S. Senate Committee understood the complexity of the Pecos Grant, New Mexico lawyer and historian Ralph Emerson Twitchell told them in 1923: “There are so many things in connection with this entire business that twenty King Solomons cannot unravel the knot.” Yet in this book Hall does sort through the conflicting claims in the over one hundred years of Spanish, Mexican, and American legal maneuvers, legislative stalemates, and private sales involving this 18,000 acre square of land. ... Read more

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This book addresses two questions that are crucial to understanding Mexico's current economic and political challenges. Why did the opening up of the economy to foreign trade and investment not result in sustained economic growth? Why has electoral democracy not produced rule of law? The answer to those questions lies in the ways in which Mexico's long history with authoritarian government shaped its judicial, taxation, and property rights institutions. These institutions, the authors argue, cannot be reformed with the stroke of a pen. Moreover, they represent powerful constraints on the ability of the Mexican government to fund welfare-enhancing reforms, on the ability of firms and households to write contracts, and on the ability of citizens to enforce their basic rights. ... Read more

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When the United States declared war on Spain in 1898, rumors abounded throughout the nation that the Spanish-speaking population of New Mexico secretly sympathized with the enemy. At the end of the war, The New York Times warned that New Mexico's "Mexicans professed a deep hostility to American ideas and American policies." As long as Spanish remained the primary language of public instruction, the Times admonished, "the majority of the inhabitants will remain 'Mexican' and retain a pseudo-allegiance [to Spain]."

This perception of Spanish-speaking New Mexicans as "un-American" was widely shared. Such allegations of disloyalty, coupled with the prevalent views that all Mexican peoples were racially non-white and "unfit" to assume the rights and responsibilities of full citizenship, inspired powerful reactions among the Spanish-speaking people of New Mexico. Most sought to distinguish themselves from Mexican immigrants by emphasizing their "Spanish" roots. Tourism, too, began to foster the myth that nuevomexicanos were culturally and racially Spanish. Since the 1950s, historians, sociologists, and anthropologists have dismissed the ubiquitous Spanish heritage claimed by many New Mexicans.

John M. Nieto-Phillips, himself a nuevomexicano, argues that Spanish-American identity evolved out of a medieval rhetoric about blood purity, or limpieza de sangre, as well as a modern longing to enter the United States's white body politic. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Present for an 11-year old Hispanic
We purchased this to give to an Hispanic student my husband has mentored for the past 3 years. His roots are Mexican & he was delighted with the book. ... Read more

Product Description
The importance of religion in New Mexico is manifest in this collection of essays, the proceedings of a 1997 symposium that represents the work of twenty-three of the region's most noted scholars and writers. Among the topics they cover are church architecture, the role of missionaries in colonization, the role of the church in education, the contributions of the Penitentes, and the work of specific orders, particularly the Jesuits and the Franciscans. Local devotion to such figures as St. Michael, La Guadalupana, La Conquistadora, and Nuestra Seora de Beln is addressed in several essays, as well as the work of such historic leaders as Padre Martnez and Archbishop Lamy. In addition to its importance for historians, this book will be of interest to genealogists. It includes an essay on sacramental records and the preservation of New Mexico family genealogies from the colonial era to the present. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great service for a great price
This is a difficult book to find. But to find it at such a good price followed by fast delivery made it worthwhile. Thanks. ... Read more

Product Description
The key to successful business and travel in today’s Mexico In Mexico, as everywhere, details of etiquette, culture, and protocol can make or break any business or social interaction. This fascinating and informative guide provides everything you need to develop a solid working knowledge of the Mexican people, their unique customs and values, and their distinct world view. You’ll learn:

• How to talk to superiors and subordinates in the work-place, work with bureaucrats and officials, and schedule meetings
• Crucial information on family, gender roles, bureaucracy, religion, time, manners, dress and appearance, meals, work, and leisure
• Distinctions between rural and city life
• The fine points of body language, socializing, conversing, making friends, dining out, romance, and Mexican humor
• Insights into traditional Mexican mores and how they are changing in response to rapid modernization

Customer Reviews (5)

Excellent Source
I traveled to Mexico with Dr. Heusinkveld as a participant on one of her study abroad trips to the city where she wrote the book.I soon found out that not only is the book a must read for anyone interested in visiting or doing business in Mexico, but that the information that was published over 10 years ago is still very accurate in much of the country.

The book is a very easy read and not long at all.Its small size is very deceptive because the book is crammed withinformation that one should not go without.

Do not travel to Mexico without this book.

Most valuable next to Spanish-English dictionary
I love this book, as much for its conciseness and economy of words as well as all the sensitively considered advice and invaluable tips.
Though it is a deceptively thin book, it seems to touch on all areas of likely concern to one who visits or moves to Mexico.I wouldn't travel to Mexico without it, now.

Inside Mexico
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED--should be required reading for every American so they have a better understanding of our neighbors to the south.I bought this when I first met my wife who is from Mexico.I found it very enlightening and worth every cent.It's easy to read since it is not in-depth, however, it is still very enlightening.It talks about real Mexico and real Mexicans--not the life and culture that surrounds resorts.It may need to be updated (10 years old) cause the youth in Mexico are greatly influenced by media (TV, movies, etc) today just as American youth are--however, it still provides great insight of where Mexicans are coming from.

OK if you've never been to Mexico...
...but if you know anything at all about the culture or have visited non-tourist spots you probably know a lot of this stuff already.I'm looking for something more in-depth, so I didn't find this book very helpful.

There'd be less misunderstanding if more of us read this gem
I've read and re-read this short book, and it has helped me tremendously to understand Mexico and Mexicans. Their culture is different enough from ours that our habits don't always work.For example, in the chapter on manners, the author points out that people often thank shop clerks when leaving a store. I tried this on a recent trip and discovered that it could lead to enjoyable short conversations.

Published in 1994, I found it very timely in 2003. ... Read more

Product Description
One hundred years worth of quality Mexican popular art, including pottery, clay figures, marionettes, straw mosaics, Talavera, clay banks, coconut banks, laquerware, wood panels and rugs, from 1850-1950, is covered here with over 370 color photographs illustrating over 675 objects. Collecting hints are included in every chapter. The book concludes with room shots, illustrating many beautiful options for displaying collections. A values reference guide is also included. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

An outstanding, key survey for any collection strong in Mexican art
Donna McMenamin's POPULAR ARTS OF MEXICO 1850-1950 provides a survey of a hundred years of Mexican art, offering nearly four hundred color photos illustrating over 675 selected objects. The history, techniques and artists who produced these figures are surveyed along with personal interviews and research on the histories of artistic families. Add room shots displaying collections and you have an outstanding, key survey for any collection strong in Mexican art.

A Must-Have for Vintage Mexican Pottery!
This book is like visiting a museum for vintage Mexican pottery and collectibles. The images are fantastic, the information about the artists is extensive. It also shows the items in a few room settings for decorating ideas. Highly recommend!

Important contribution to the field of Mexican folk art
McMenamin's lavishly illustrated tome covers many areas of Mexican folk art, including certain forms specifically created for the American tourist market in the 1920's, 30's and 40's. Folk ceramics, talavera, textiles,furniture, wood carvings, popote or straw mosaics, lacquerware, loteriadrawings and carved coconut banks are among the folk art genres included inthis well-researched book. As a collector of Mexican folk art, I know onlytoo well how difficult it is to find books in English on this subject;McMenamin offers both the serious scholar and the casual collector preciousinsight into many folk art forms that have almost completely disappeared orare languishing because of the acculturation that inevitably occurs withforeign contact. Popular Arts of Mexico (1850-1950) is a good, basicoverview of areas other than traditional dance masks and Los Dias de LosMuertos-related folk art.

Simply "The Bible" for Mexican folk art lovers
Beautiful pictures, informed text!Collectors use this "Bible" as a reference to describe their Mexican folk art.

Most of the information is unavailable in other books.

Plus, the book is gorgeous.

The Bible of Mexican Popular Arts Collecting!
I was first told about Donna McMenamin's book "Popular Arts of Mexico" by a fellow collector of Mexicana who thought I might like it.I remember telling him I had too many other interest to get involved insuch a broad field of collecting.At that time I was collecting the mostbasic of Mexican chotzkie, anything with a "Sleeping Mexican" onit seemed appropriate.Then I saw Donna's book. One word...Wow.I wasfirst just blown away with the pictures, such clear and concise images. And the detail!Sadly, I was hooked.I started taking her book with me onjaunts to the antique mall where I would pick up anything that lookedremotely similar.Can you say expensive?Eventually, because of the book,I was able to spot things on my own, which was great, and much cheaper. :-)Donna's book has opened up a whole new world of collecting for me.Ihad never seen a carved wood panel, known as "bas relief."WhenI saw the chapter in her book I just knew I had to own one.They areincredible and have now become a focal point in our collection of TRUEMexican Popular Arts.OK, I still like sleeping Mexican things, but I'mcrazy!:-)It would be difficult for me to say a collectibles bookchanged my life, I guess it seems so shallow, however, Donna's book gave mea new awareness of things that are amazingly beautiful.I'd say that's apositive life change.Can you say sappy book review?:-) ... Read more

Product Description
Bernal D’az del Castillo (1495-1584) served under CortŽs through the entire Mexican campaign, and his narrative, one of only four extant firsthand accounts, is both an invaluable document and a spectacular epic.He watched as CortŽs sank his own Spanish ships, making desertion impossible and committing his small band of conquistadors irrevocably to the Conquest.He bore witness to the imprisonment of Montezeuma in his own palace and was privy to the counsels of the great leaders throughout the Campaign.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

By words of the soldier himself...
The book was written in the latter part of Sr. Diaz Del Castillo's life. Indeed its a mature account, that has the elements of both grandfatherly kindness and wit, as well as Christian warrior's ruthlessness and piety.

As one reads this book, one finds how appealing a character of the author himself as well as his comrades in arms is. He never fails to emphasize that he was only a soldier, although a valiant soldier, but still only a soldier.

His Captain - Cortez, seems to stand out for him as a man, who wasn't just a seeker of fortune with no plan. On the contrary, Castillo shows that his commandor was a complex character, given both to (at times) uncontrollable greed and intellgence that makes a good general and a strategist. In summary, it was no accident that the City of Mexico was conquered by so few.

Of course, this books contains much more, and in a good detail. I would definitely recommend it to all the fans of such topics as well as of history in general.

So Amazing it seems like a Fairytale
This book is gripping and easy to read. Most young adults with they could go on a great adventure, Bernal Diaz (19 or 20 when he started this story) was no different. Of all the true, historically accurate autobiographies I have read, this book is the best hands down. Whether it is fighting against thousands of natives and receiving 7 arrow wounds in one battle or fighting alongside the natives to defeat Montezuma, this book is what most fantasy novels can only attempt. Bernal does have a small thesis: Cortez should not get all the glory but history should share it with the other conquistadors who did as much or more of the actual fighting and converting. Highly recommended.

GREAT SERVICE!
THIS BOOK WAS A GIFT AND IT WAS RECIEVED IN IT'S PROPER CONDITION AND ON TIME.

Wow!
This has to be one of the most interesting journals I've ever read.Like others have said, the detail and adventure in Diaz's life make the text seem almost like fiction.I'm only 1/3 of the way into the book and every time I pick it up it's like I'm jumping back in time.Simply amazing.

A eyewitness account of Cortez'conquest of Mexico
This first hand account of Cortez's conquest of Mexico was written by Bernal Diaz', one of Cortez swordsmen. It is perhaps the most interesting and detailed first hand account of a historical event ever written. Diaz' writes about the battles, Cortez' manipulation of the various Indian tribes and his own men, and he provides intimate details on the personality of Montezuma. It is an exciting, powerful, informative, cover to cover, real-life, adventure.

Another good read on this subject are Cortez's letters to the King. As can be seen, Cortez' was in hot water because he co-opted the expedition to serve his own ends, and he was trying to con (And intimidate) the King into favoring him, rather than the governer of Cuba, from whom he stole the expedition. Cortez' tried to convince the king that he could get millions of indians to follow him, and that they could make brass cannons, gun powder, etc. ( Which by implication, could be used against any forces to bring him to justice.) He also bribed the king by sending him some of the gold that he stole from the indians, and implying the he could send much, much more. As can be seen, one of Cortez' other swordsmen went on to conquer the Incas, by using the same methods that Cortez used against the Aztecs.
... Read more