Kim MacQuarrie

Irrespective of sentiments and political correctness (PC Brigade alert), Pizzaro's conquest of the Incas-while nefarious-also holds perpetual lessons for us in the form of leadership contrasts between both the Conquistadores and the Incan Royalty. And these contrasts form a crucial backdrop to MacQuarrie's narration of the rise and fall of the Incan Empire. Intertwined alongside are the fates of the Pizzaro clan and the turns in their fortunes. This is an epic tour de force rendition of a tragic history which reverberates as viscerally today as it did when the events mentioned transpired.… (more)

If you've ever considered travelling to Peru, and especially Machu Picchu, you really should read this book before you go. The book describes the Inca culture and civilization at the time of the Spanish conquest, and explains how such a small contingent of European Christian explorers could overcome the native population while being so vastly outnumbered. It also describes the ancient ruins, and the popular tourist destination Machu Picchu. It truly puts the story of the Country in perspective, and remains informative and interesting even while being rather long (22 discs on audiobook).… (more)

Mr. MacQuarrie has written a more colourful update to John Hemming's book on the destruction of the Empire of the Four Quarters. The tone is somewhat more sensation, the information is sketchier in some areas, but as in the case of the identification of the "Lost City" of Vilcabamba, the coverage is more fine grained. The book benefits from the research and archaeology done since Hemming's day, and there is more information about the actual function and probable history of Machu Picchu. If you have read this book as well as the earlier book by Hemming, you will be well equipped for going deeper into the Inca culture, and that of the Spanish Empire as a whole.… (more)