First published in 1980, "Aztec" reached No.1 position on the "New York Times" bestseller list. "Aztec" - The extraordinary story of the last and greatest native civilization of North America, at the very height of its magnificence, was told by a novelist working at the very height of his powers. It is a story told in the words of one of the most robust and memorable characters of recent fiction. His name is Mixtli - Dark Cloud. Born the son of a provincial quarrier, Mixtli rises far above his station. He becomes, first, a scribe; he goes on to distinguish himself as a warrior, earns a fortune as a travelling merchant and explores every part of what the Aztecs called - The One World - the far lands of mountains, jungles, deserts, seacoasts. His courage and resourcefulness earn him a knighthood and, eventually, elevation to the nobility. "Aztec" is a novel of heroic dimension in every respect. Twelve years in the making, it is compelling in story, in its feel of history happening and in its tumult of events. It is rich with memorable characters and brilliantly colourful exoticism. It is an epic tale, full of power and surprise that will leave its readers wishing it would never end.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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"A first-class storyteller....Mr. Jennings has achieved true distinction." --"Atlantic Monthly"
"Anyone who reads, anyone who still lusts for adventure or that book you can't put down, will glory in the "Aztec"." --"The Los Angeles Times"
""Aztec "is so vivid that this reviewer had the novel experience of dreaming of the Aztec world, in Technicolor, for several nights in a row." --"The Chicago Sun-Times"
"The scope of the book includes the gallantry and barbarism, sex and nobility, intelligence and folly, of historical fiction.....[The reader] is amply entertained and caught up in fascinating history." --"San Francisco Chronicle"
"Remarkable...It conveys with ferocious yet often lyrical force the texture of life in a civilization at once intensely sophisticated and, by our standards, utterly barbaric....A splendidly colorful, wholly convincing re-creation of a vanished culture." --"Cosmopolitan"
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
"Anyone who reads, anyone who still lusts for adventure or that book you can't put down, will glory in the "Aztec"." --"The Los Angeles Times"
""Aztec "is so vivid that this reviewer had the novel experience of dreaming of the Aztec world, in Technicolor, for several nights in a row." --"The Chicago Sun-Times"
"The scope of the book includes the gallantry and barbarism, sex and nobility, intelligence and folly, of historical fiction.....[The reader] is amply entertained and caught up in fascinating history." --"San Francisco Chronicle"
"Remarkable...It conveys with ferocious yet often lyrical force the texture of life in a civilization at once intensely sophisticated and, by our standards, utterly barbaric....A splendidly colorful, wholly convincing re-creation of a vanished culture." --"Cosmopolitan"
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I First read this book about 3 or 4 years ago and it has left a profound effect on me. Since then Ihave read it now and again. For a book about a culture I know little or nothing about and a time which is so alien to me, it is amazing that 3 years and many books later it remains my favourite
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
It tells the tale of a young boy brought up in a middle class family only a few years before Cortez invades, the tragic destruction of his family through the social climbing schemings of his mother, his own turbulant personal life and his climb to extream wealth. His life is is forever changed by the berayal of his best friends, he stands helpless as he witnesses the death of all he people loves, the brutal and measured revenge he exacts and how he was unwittingly intrinsic in the fall of the empire he served. This story looks at the rise and fall of one of the most advanced cultures in the world at that time, the millions that made it's society, it's mythology and laws and warriors and how it was all brought to it's knees by a handful of reluctant conquistadores and the untimely introduction of smallpox.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Gary Jennings's Aztec concerns the life of one individual man, his rise from humble beginnings to a man of wealth and influence, in ancient meso-America. If this sounds like an animated Disney film, I should mention that there are copious amounts of blood, sex and violence in this book.
I am generally not given to reading a lot of fiction but I was hugely impressed with this piece of work. Mr Jennings has created a truly memorable novel, filled with colourful characters and eventful set-pieces, a tapestry of romance, adventure, travel and history. It is hard to over-sell this particular book.
After visiting some of the places mentioned in this book, including the Aztec pyramids and reading some of the relevant history, I have the greatest respect for what Gary Jennings has achieved. The story is rich and evocative, the life of a meso-American civilisation at its peak is vibrantly brought to life; the clothing, the food, the rituals and the architecture, the wars and the human sacrifice. The introduction of the Spanish conquistadors and their subsequent destruction of a rich culture is painfully authentic.
As written above, I am not given to much fiction but this book was simply stunning. And no singing animals.
I am generally not given to reading a lot of fiction but I was hugely impressed with this piece of work. Mr Jennings has created a truly memorable novel, filled with colourful characters and eventful set-pieces, a tapestry of romance, adventure, travel and history. It is hard to over-sell this particular book.
After visiting some of the places mentioned in this book, including the Aztec pyramids and reading some of the relevant history, I have the greatest respect for what Gary Jennings has achieved. The story is rich and evocative, the life of a meso-American civilisation at its peak is vibrantly brought to life; the clothing, the food, the rituals and the architecture, the wars and the human sacrifice. The introduction of the Spanish conquistadors and their subsequent destruction of a rich culture is painfully authentic.
As written above, I am not given to much fiction but this book was simply stunning. And no singing animals.
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4.6 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best book ever
Made me cry, angry, happy... all the feelings. It is just an amazing book that just doesn't let you put it down.
Published 2 months ago by Gerardo
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gift
Bought this for a friend and she really enjoyed the story, even though it took weeks to read the whole book, well written.
Published 2 months ago by chrystal
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best books I've ever read
An adventure with events that will shock you and a feeling that you will want to hold on to. This historic novel about the Aztec Mixtli, is simply one of the best books I have ever... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Sasmari
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thouroughly enjoyable historical based complex story
Aztec is one of the most enjoyable fictional reads. The book gives you are background to Aztec life that is based on deep research. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Talese
5.0 out of 5 stars
Historically accurate in every single detail !
The Aztec empire, and the other civilizations of ancient Mexico, are one of the best documented and studied great civilizations of the world. Read more
Published on 13 Mar 2011 by Raúl Sáenz
5.0 out of 5 stars
the best book i have ever read
there is no point in repeating what other reviewers have written, they are all absolutely correct, this is by far the best novel i have ever read, to improve on it i will have to... Read more
Published on 21 Feb 2011 by sam wilson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Big bawdy and brilliant
Gary Jennings is (or sadly 'was') one of the very best historical novelists. His books are extremely well researched and packed with historical detail. Read more
Published on 25 Aug 2009 by Nobody Famous
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best book I have read in a long time.
From the first few pages of this book I was hooked. I had imagined this book to be a general story about an Aztec, but was I mistaken. There is nothing general about this book. Read more
Published on 15 Nov 2008 by B Woods
5.0 out of 5 stars
Go Native!
I love this well-researched, touching and informative novel. If this didn't really happen, it should have! The characters are well-drawn and the narrative not too wordy. Read more
Published on 7 Aug 2008 by The Dalai Farmer
5.0 out of 5 stars
First in the Azteca Series
I first read this book when it was published in 1980 and was mesmerized by the story telling skills of the author Gary Jennings, who went on to write several other books in the... Read more
Published on 28 Nov 2007 by J. Chippindale
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