William H. Prescott (1796–1859)

It is indeed an epic tale. I hadn’t realised how organised and prosperous the Aztec state was. Prescott is, of course, a little influenced by his 19th century ideas of civilised people and savages, but he is enough of a historian to let the story speak for itself. He produces a story of bravery of a small band who through coincidences and good leadership conquer a country, a story of heroism on a Homeric scale. And yet he is aware of the evils they cause. Perhaps he emphasises too much the show more human sacrifices, on such a scale that they must surely have caused the collapse of the system sooner or later.

I was struck by the resemblances with Cromwell’s conquest of Ireland. Both the Spaniards and the Cromwellians were convinced that they were fighting for Christ, and that this justified the bloodshed. And yet the Spanish had Bishop Las Casas to argue against their actions. And the more radical sections of Cromwell’s army were not merely radical in religion (no power for any bishop or presbytery [district committee]). They were also radical in politics. There were those who said that God would not welcome converts at the point of the gun. The Leveller William Walwyn said “the cause of the Irish natives in seeking their just freedoms … was the very same with our cause here in endeavouring our own rescue and freedom from the power of oppressors,” 1646. show less

Quite superb piece of writing, very much of its time (early 19th century) and no doubt overtaken in research terms but a true joy to read. Seccombe's introduction also well worth reading but leave it until you have enjoyed the book itself - and the 19th century perspective on this amazing story of the Spanish conquistadores and their doings.

The Conquest of Peru, by William H. Prescott, was written in the mid 1800's and so is written in the language of the time. Much more expressive (flowery?) than a story told today. It is also very thin on how the native peoples were treated during and immediately after the conquest period covered in this book, although that is to be expected considering (1) what the focus of the book was/is - the conquest itself, and (2) the lack of importance that was put on the plight of native peoples at show more the time. That being said, the story of the Conquest of Peru seems to be taken from source materials such as letters, diaries, and official documents. These accounts give us an appreciation of the conditions the conquistadors lived through to accomplish what they did. I was never bored as the descriptions of the individuals are three dimensional and colorful.
The book actually starts out with a wonderful framework of how the Incan Empire worked. The tiered hierarchy of life in Peru before the advent of the Spanish. As I read the accounts of daily life of these people, from the lowest worker to the highest ranking Inca, I watched several documentaries on the subject. I had thought that, perhaps, the information Prescott worked with had radically changed over the many decades of archeological studies. It has not. There has been some "filling in the blanks" as to daily life, but, the basic framework of life is the same as when Prescott was alive. Most probably this information also came from the same sources I previously alluded to: letters, diaries, and official documents. As it was, prior to moving in to fully conquer the Incas, Pizarro and his ilk made peaceful expeditionary explorations to learn the lay of the land.
All in all, I defiantly am happy to have read this book. It was from my dad's library which I inherited after he died. show less

An Artifact from 1843, Mr. Prescott's book continues to be reprinted though mostly in display editions. My favourite replacement for this book is the more recent account by Hugh Thomas, but Prescott's book has its charms. The ethnological component is of course greatly out of date, but the more detailed sections of the conflict's details have some interest. A word about style: William Hickling Prescott was greatly influenced by Gibbon's weighty prose, and by the English writer's penchant for show more snide footnotes. But, if you are interested in a book written by an American which seems to have influenced at least the political rhetoric of the incomplete replacement of the First Nations of America, and steeped in anti-Catholic attitude, pleasant times can be spent with Prescott's opus. Epigramry is often sought for, and some of the product is decent.
There is a considerable and useful part of the book dedicated to biographies of Prescott's sources, show less