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The Conquest of New Spain (Classics) [Paperback]

Bernal Diaz del Castillo (Author), John Cohen (Translator)
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
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Book Description

Publication Date: 26 July 1973 | ISBN-10: 0140441239 | ISBN-13: 978-0140441239 | Edition: New Impression

Vivid, powerful and absorbing, this is a first-person account of one of the most startling military episodes in history: the overthrow of Montezuma's doomed Aztec Empire by the ruthless Hernan Cortes and his band of adventurers.

Bernal Díaz del Castillo, himself a soldier under Cortes, presents a fascinatingly detailed description of the Spanish landing in Mexico in 1520 and their amazement at the city, the exploitation of the natives for gold and other treasures, the expulsion and flight of the Spaniards, their regrouping and eventual capture of the Aztec capital.

Frequently Bought Together

The Conquest of New Spain (Classics) + A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies (Penguin Classics) + Letters from Mexico (Yale Nota Bene)
Price For All Three: £27.13

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Product details

  • Paperback: 416 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin Classics; New Impression edition (26 July 1973)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0140441239
  • ISBN-13: 978-0140441239
  • Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 2.3 x 19.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 142,138 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

About the Author

Spanish historian Bernal Diaz del Castillo (c.1492-1584) was a soldier in the army of the conquistador Cortes in the attack on the Aztecs.

J M Cohen translated widely from French and Spanish, including for Penguin Classics Montaigne's Essays and Cervantes' Don Quixote.

Inside This Book (Learn More)
First Sentence
BERNAL DIAZ DEL CASTILLO, the last survivor of the Conquerors of Mexico, died on his estates in Guatemala at the age of eight-nine, as poor as he had lived. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely superb insight into the life of an ordinary Spanish Conquistador 6 Jun 2008
By Steven Brown TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Over the last couple of years I've been quite interested in the Spanish conquest of South America, and I had heard this book referred to a couple of times, so thought I would pick it up.

Anyone with even just a passing interest in South America history should grab a copy. It's easily one of the most gripping and interesting books I've ever read.

The story is translated from the original Spanish of a soldier who traveled with Hernan Cortes and his small band of soldiers, who eventually overthrew a rich and powerful civilisation.

Bernal Diaz' story starts with his involvement in a couple of early investigations of the Mexican coast, moving onto his expedition with Cortes. He explains the movements and battles in detail, meetings between 2 cultures who didn't really know what to make of each other, building towards the incredible climax of fearsome resistance and house to house fighting in the fall of Tenochtitlan.

A truly amazing book that is a must read for anyone with an interest in history.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The Ultimate True Story 28 Nov 2009
By The Bad Guy
Format:Paperback
When Bernal Diaz set out from Spain in the early 16th century he had no idea what lay before him. His was an adventure that wouuld see the collapse of the ancient empire of the Aztecs. Spain would assume supremacy in the New world and our world would be changed forever. Diaz gives a first-hand account of the miltary campaign, which he was actively engaged in, that led to these momentous world-changing events. He displays a deep understanding of, and sympathy with, the native Indians. His heart is always in the right place, but his sword is always in his right hand. Towards the end of his long life he took up his pen and bequeathed to us a book that puts flesh and blood on the dry bones of history. This is historical narrative at its most sweeping and compelling best.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down. Fact with the grip of fiction. 24 April 2002
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
The translator, Cohen, has drawn the salient facts from someone who was actually there, Bernal Diaz.

Helps you to understand the scale of what was achieved, how it was achieved, and what drove them to achieve.

Excellent. Written in a straightforward manner. Read it, then read it to my children who found it gripping.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars A little on the dry side...
The story itself is fascinating: an account of 400+ Spanish soldiers and sailors who fought their way through Mexico, from the Gulf at Vera Cruz, to Montezuma's fortress city. Read more
Published 2 months ago by High Seas Drifter
3.0 out of 5 stars Cut and Paste
I bought this book some years ago when I was interested in Latin American history, after having lived there for a year. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Honrus Publicus
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Fascinating!!
When I was about to buy this book, I was afraid that it would not be very precise or impartial, as it was written by a Spanish soldier that took part in the conquest of the Aztec... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Ricardo Lopes
2.0 out of 5 stars disapointed
I had read a different interpretation of this book on a pdf file but wanted a hard copy so bought this, it shamelessly cuts out important sections and events, even though in the... Read more
Published 13 months ago by mich
5.0 out of 5 stars unbelievable
Bernal Diaz gives a highly readable,first hand account of the conquest of the Aztecs.What this man,when he died at the age of 89,had experienced in his life beggars belief and the... Read more
Published on 7 Mar 2010 by Mr. S. J. Macdonald
5.0 out of 5 stars Gold, not Faith
Bernal Díaz's bloody tale is an extremely revealing text and an overt message to all soldiers all over the world. Read more
Published on 13 Feb 2010 by Luc REYNAERT
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
.. it is probably the best historical book i have read. the fact it was written 500 years ago and is still interesting to the average person is rare. Read more
Published on 17 Dec 2001
2.0 out of 5 stars A great book - pity about the edition
Bernal Diaz's account of the conquest of Tenochtitlan by the Spanish is one of the best documents of that famous event. Read more
Published on 12 Dec 2001
4.0 out of 5 stars Conquest of a Continent
Bernal Diaz's account of his expirences in New Spain (i.e, Mexico and the Aztec Empire) is one of the key texts associated with the expansion into and colonisation of Central and... Read more
Published on 1 July 2001 by sam.mason@bnc.ox.ac.uk
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