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Loading... History of the Conquest of Peru (1847)by William H. Prescott
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. Prescott and Parkman are the two big American Romantic Historians, and I've read them both. While there are now better books on this topic, Prescott is still a good man for an epigraph, when your chapters require one. It reads well, and my 1942 Everyman's library reprint fit well in my luggage for a trip. The book was published in 1847, nearly the three hundredth anniversary. 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. no reviews | add a review
Belongs to Publisher SeriesEveryman's Library (301) Notable Lists
History.
Nonfiction.
HTML: A recognized Latin American history masterpiece "The History of the Conquest of Peru" offers an authoritative vision of Pizarro's turbulent defeat of the Inca Empire. Overflowing with spectacle, every page encapsulates the ruthlessness and arrogance of the conquistadors. .No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)985.02History and Geography South America Peru History of PeruLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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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. ( )