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Conquistador: Hernan Cortes, King Montezuma, and the Last Stand of the Aztecs Audiobook
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(4.16) - 19 listener ratings
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It was a moment unique in human history, the face-to-face meeting between two men from civilizations a world apart. In 1519, Hernán Cortés arrived on the shores of Mexico, determined not only to expand the Spanish expire but to convert the natives to Catholicism and carry off a fortune in gold. That he saw nothing paradoxical in his intentions is one of the most remarkable and tragic aspects of this unforgettable story. In Tenochtitlán, Cortés met his Aztec counterpart, Montezuma: king, divinity, and commander of the most powerful military in the Americas. Yet in less than two years, Cortés defeated the entire Aztec nation in one of the most astounding battles ever waged.
The story of a lost kingdom, a relentless conqueror, and a doomed warrior, Conquistador is history at its most riveting.
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"Truth stranger than fiction.Entertaining and well researched pop history that brings to life Cortez’s absolutely astounding feat of the terrorisation and subjugation of a whole alien civilisation in just a little over 2 years.What it took, the incredible confluence of factors required to enable an original handful of less than 500 Spaniards to conquer a culture who outnumbered them 1000s:1 is as absolutely astonishing and incredible as the conquests of Alexander, Gengis Khan or the rise to power of Hitler & Nazis Germany.Levy tilts at a noticeably Eurocentric bias here, but also gives time to chronicle the cruelty, self-serving hypocrisy and cultural pomposity which underlay the whole sordid business with a rather refreshing lack of political correctness."
— Alex (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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In Buddy Levy's finely wrought and definitive Conquistador, the worlds of Cortes and Montezuma collide and come to life.... Prodigiously researched and stirringly told.
— Jeremy Schaap, bestselling author of Triumph -
“Drawing heavily on both Spanish and Aztec sources…Levy gives a straightforward telling of the entire story…Well-written…Highly recommended.”
— Library Journal (starred review) -
“Lively account of the Spanish conquest of Mexico.”
— Kirkus Reviews -
“In Buddy Levy’s finely wrought and definitive Conquistador, the worlds of Cortes and Montezuma collide and come to life…Prodigiously researched and stirringly told.”
— Jeremy Schaap, author of Triumph
Conquistador Listener Reviews
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JK, 6/25/2021
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Dana Amendola, 2/24/2018
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" A great example of history writing: great prose, accurate in its facts, compelling, giving enough sense of the characters as people with limited judgment (though its hard not to dislike Cortes for his brutality and colonial arrogance). "
— Brian, 3/30/2011 -
" A fascinating look at how Cortes and his handful of conquistadors managed to take control of one of the largest empires on earth at that time. A fascinating personality study of Cortes the man, and of Montezuma, of what we can know of him. "
— Fara, 3/18/2011 -
" This true story of the conquest of the Aztecs blew my mind. It is so griping, wild, violent, and shattering as to only reflect the scope of empires crashing in who's wake we all still live. Cortes is Both hero and insatiably vicious. "
— Mati, 12/6/2010 -
" Outstanding book if you don't know much about this area of history. The writing is first rate, it's thorough but doesn't feel dense or too heavy. Great first choice for those who wish to learn about the Conquest of the Aztecs "
— Loren, 11/26/2010 -
" I read this book during my stay in Mexico. For a history book it was easy to read and told the story in a balanced way. "
— William, 6/23/2010 -
" Well written and concise tales of Cortez in New Spain (Mexico). Very readable and enjoyable. "
— Jason, 1/27/2010 -
" Conquistador details the complicated politics and alliances that allowed Cortes to defeat Montezuma. It also dispells some of the myths that surround this event. "
— Sarah, 9/22/2009 -
" A pleasant book for those unfamiliar with the subject, as I was. This title probably lost points for being "popular" history, but for me it was a good introduction to a period I know little about. "
— Angie, 3/26/2009
About Buddy Levy
Buddy Levy teaches writing and literature at Washington State University and is the author of numerous books, including No Barriers (with Erik Weihenmayer), River of Darkness, and Conquistador, which was a finalist for the 2009 Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Award. Levy’s essay “Leaps of Faith” was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2006. He lives in northern Idaho.
About Patrick Lawlor
Patrick Lawlor, an award-winning narrator, is also an accomplished stage actor, director, and combat choreographer. He has worked extensively off Broadway and has been an actor and stuntman in both film and television. He has been an Audie Award finalist multiple times and has garnered several AudioFile Earphones Awards, a Publishers Weekly Listen-Up Award, and many starred audio reviews from Library Journal and Kirkus Reviews.