Synopses & Reviews
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.
Review
"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
Review
"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
Synopsis
In an astonishing work of scholarship that reads like an adventure thriller, historian Buddy Levy records the last days of the Aztec empire and the two men at the center of an epic clash of cultures.
About the Author
For nearly two decades, author and journalist Buddy Levy's writing has appeared in national, international, and regional publications, as well as on a variety of Web sites. Levy specializes in books, essays, profiles, and features on history, sports, and the outdoors, as well as feature articles on travel, lifestyle, and culture. His first book is Echoes on Rimrock: In Pursuit of the Chukar Partridge, and he is also the author of American Legend: The Real-Life Adventures of David Crockett.As a journalist, Levy has written for GRB Entertainment, Eco-Challenge Productions, and the Discovery Channel, and he has been a correspondent for MountainZone.com. His feature writing has appeared in a wide range of magazines and literary journals, including the Utne Reader, SKI, Northern Lights, Big Sky Journal, Backpacker, Runner's World, and Writer's Digest. Levy's essay "Leaps of Faith" was nominated for a 2006 Pushcart Prize. A clinical assistant professor, Buddy teaches writing and literature at Washington State University. An AudioFile Earphones Award winner and Audie Award finalist, Patrick Lawlor is also an accomplished stage actor, director, and combat choreographer. His recent audio includes the New York Times bestseller The Last True Story I'll Ever Tell (Tantor). "Lawlor is masterful." —The Philadelphia Inquirer