The True History Of The Conquest Of Mexico, By Captain Bernal Diaz Del Castillo, One Of The Conquerors. Written In The Year 1568

KEATINGE, ESQ, MAURICE [TRANSLATOR FROM THE ORIGINAL SPANISH]

Publication: Printed For J Wright, Piccadilly, By John Dean, 1800, London:

First edition in English. 4to. Translated from the original Spanish by Maurice Keatinge. Leather and boards, viii, 514 [1] pp., frontispiece [map], preface.

One of the most important firsthand accounts of the Spanish conquest of Mexico. Written by Bernardo Diaz del Castillo, a foot soldier who served under Hernan Cortes during the expedition that led to the fall of the Aztec Empire. The book covers the expedition from Cuba to Mexico in 1519; first encounters with Indigenous peoples along the Gulf Coast; the alliance with the Tlaxcalans; the march to Tenochtitlan; meetings between Cortes and Moctezuma II; the uprising in Tenochtitlan and the retreat known as the La Noche Triste; the siege and fall of Tenochtitlan in 1521; etc. The book provides detailed descriptions of Indigenous cities, markets, and customs; military operations and logistics; relationships among Spanish commanders; daily life of common soldiers; the cultural shock experienced by Europeans encountering Mesoamerican civilization; etc.

Encyclopedia Britannica: "Bernal Diaz del Castillo [1495 – 1584] was a Spanish soldier and author, who took part in the conquest of the Aztec nation. Diaz's account is written in an unassuming, colloquial style and has both historical and artistic value." A.S.W. Rosenstock, 19 #193: "All the later histories of America have acknowledged their debt to Bernal Diaz, and his work has been acclaimed one of the most valuable source books of the period." The author was an original member of Cortez’s expedition to conquer the Aztec nation. He was involved in the initial planning stages all the way to its culmination. One of the most important sources on the conquest of the Aztec Empire and Mexico.

The original leather spine label is missing, but a new leather label approximating the original has been placed inside this copy. Retains the original leather boards which exhibit perimeter wear. Internally there are repairs to the hinges with some toning of the text but remarkably free of foxing. In all, a very good copy.