A good telling of a seminal and famous historical period. However, despite its wealth of information about all sides of the conflict, it still seems to overplay the bravado and audacity of the conquistadors, and to underplay the role of Andean allies and the degree of intra-Inca civil war involved. For example, compare the information in this documentary on the archaeology of the siege of Lima: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/great-inca-rebellion.html In the book, this is a spectacular triumph of Spanish courage against all but overwhelming numbers. In the archaeology and lesser known sources, there was a major element of intra-Inca fighting. Perhaps while emphasising Spanish bravado and arms, history has neglected their political skill. ( )

John Hemming first wrote this book by 1970, I have a Penguin reprint, the 1983 revision. This is a very good description of the disappearance of the major South American indigenous culture. The Spanish certainly did not replace it with the best version of Western European civilization. Hemming is quite careful to define his work as a history of the interaction between the two cultures, and omits the usual potted account of the rise of the Inca state. This does focus the work in a useful fashion and clarifies the process and the resistance to it. The Culture finally imbodied by the "Empire of the Four Quarters" was created in a remarkable isolation from other groups, and thus is an example of development rare in human cultures. The rapacity and motives of the Spanish are easy to isolate, but the Peruvian motives seem to be harder to identify, and in some cases will remain so. But this seems to me to be a very readable version of events. ( )

A good telling of a seminal and famous historical period. However, despite its wealth of information about all sides of the conflict, it still seems to overplay the bravado and audacity of the conquistadors, and to underplay the role of Andean allies and the degree of intra-Inca civil war involved. For example, compare the information in this documentary on the archaeology of the siege of Lima: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/great-inca-rebellion.html In the book, this is a spectacular triumph of Spanish courage against all but overwhelming numbers. In the archaeology and lesser known sources, there was a major element of intra-Inca fighting. Perhaps while emphasising Spanish bravado and arms, history has neglected their political skill. ( )

It is always difficult to read histories such as this because when it comes right down to it, this is a conquest of a people who were indigenous to the land; in other words, people who were "there" first. I found myself holding my breath when I read the sentence, "the moment had finally come when the first Spaniards were to confront the ruler of Peru" (page 33) because you just knew they were going to execute him at some point (and they did). All that aside, Hemming does a thorough job detailing the Spanish conquest of Peru. It is a worthy read, especially if you are planning to visit the region. ( )

Epic and magisterial, John Hemming's account of the conquest of Peru should be required reading for anyone who hopes to understand how 168 Spaniards prevailed over one of the most accomplished and extraordinary empires the world has known. Though more recent scholarship provides more up-to-the-minute information, none matches Hemming's masterful storytelling. Read it and weep! ( )