Rating: 
Summary: Spellbinding. Better than fiction.
Review: Forget political correctness and historical revisionism; read this with an open mind. Bernal Diaz, one of Cortez's minions, was there and present historians weren't. No historical figure gets off easy in this book. The Spanish were warriors and met Aztec warriors. Truly one of the best-written books ever. Though it is in translation, the style translates well into English and is simply riveting. The best Hollywood screenwriters couldn't invent this adventure though I bet it's influenced many writers.
Rating:
Summary: Spellbinding. Better than fiction.
Review: Forget political correctness and historical revisionism; read this with an open mind. Bernal Diaz, one of Cortez's minions, was there and present historians weren't. No historical figure gets off easy in this book. The Spanish were warriors and met Aztec warriors. Truly one of the best-written books ever. Though it is in translation, the style translates well into English and is simply riveting. The best Hollywood screenwriters couldn't invent this adventure though I bet it's influenced many writers.
Rating: 
Summary: Stay away....unless.......
Review: I have never seen a book that loses so much with its translation. It's pathetic. You MUST stay away from this book, specially if you have the chance to read the Spanish version. Just an example of pathetic: The value given to treasure found by the Spanish in Mexico in early 1500s, is in US Dollars !!!!!!!!!Life is way too short. Stay away !!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorite books, ever!
Review: I heartily recommend this book to both history buffs and lovers of literature alike. Not only did it give me an understanding of Hernan Cortes and his expedition that I never before possesed, but it was also a pure joy to read. It is one thing to be able to read facts out of a history textbook, it is another to be able to truly "feel" what something was like. And despite the considerable length of this book, I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. In fact, it reads less like a history lesson and more like a capitivating work of fiction. Diaz' work is rich, colorful, and without pretention. The language is eloquent and refined without being too wordy, and is absolutely beautiful; in fact, the last time I read language so delicious was while reading Cervantes' Don Quixote. And there is plenty action, and excitement, and plot twists, and conspiracies, and more human sacrifice than you might have ever expected. And, to be truthful, as politically incorrect as this may sound, a lot of notions I had were dispelled after reading this book. I no longer see Cortes as the ruthless, black-hearted conquistador that I once thought him to be; I now have a great respect for his courage, sagacity, and his great skill as a leader of men. Likewise, my belief that the Aztecs were merely some peaceful, Earth-hugging, "native" victims of European conquest has also died. And as unpopular as both of these sentiments might seem, I will stand by them, and I would say that it would do a lot of college students and liberal professors - those who are so outspoken in their hate of tyrants and fervid in their support of the oppressed - some good to read Senor Diaz' tale. And I, having once been one of those "liberally-minded" individuals never thought I'd hear myself saying these things, but I am. There are two sides to every story. And though it is much easier to simply censure and villainize someone and label other people as victims - to make things black and white - I believe it is the job of a free-thinker to see all things as they truly are, from all sides, though I know that usually makes most people very uncomfortable. Anyhow, do yourself a favor and get this book now. I only wish that there were another just like it.
Rating:
Summary: At least two sides to a story...
Review: I started my Aztec interested by reading the historical fiction series by Gary Jennings, titled Aztec and Aztec Autumn. The first being a fairly good book. I then read Diaz's account of what happened and found that it not only improved the Gary Jennings books, but it also highlighted that there is more than one side to this story. The Aztec, the many factions of Aztecs, the surrounding cultures (Mayans etc...) who allied with the Spanish, and the Spanish (with their different political and religious ties). Drama, heriocs, cowardice, indifference... all the makings of an incredible story, and all subjectively true (I'm sure most of the events are factual, they are all just subjective). This book is history told through vivid, first hand narrative. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: On the spot reportage from 16th century conquistador
Review: Several decades ago, as a college sophomore, I was assigned to read Bernal DÃaz' work as part of a Latin American history course. The title did not give me much hope. I imagined having to force myself to sit at a desk night after night in order to finish the book. To my great surprise, once I began to read this incredible eye-witness account, I could not put it down. Still, some 38 years later, Bernal DÃaz' story, as one of the soldiers who accompanied Cortés, remains forever as one of the best books I have ever read on any subject. Vivid, eye-witness description of the whole story of the Conquest of Mexico in 1519 will rivet you to the pages, if you have even the slightest sense of history or desire to imagine strange events in faroff places. Here is the tale of how the Spanish soldiers, led by Cortés, despite tremendous odds, toppled an ancient civilization, destroying it utterly, and began a new society that would eventually become modern Mexico. Where else are you going to read words like these, describing the Spaniards' first arrival in Tenochtitlan, which would become Mexico City ? "When we saw so many cities and villages built both in the water and on dry land, and this straight, level causeway, we couldn't restrain our admiration. It was like the enchantments told about in the book of Amadis, because of the high towers, temples, and other buildings, all of masonry, which rose from the water. Some of our soldiers asked if what we saw was not a dream." Alliances, intrigues, battles, retributions, strange gods and the clash of utterly different cultures fill this amazing book. If you have any fondness for history, if you have any curiosity about vanished civilizations, if you would like to ponder about Fate with more substance than usual (!), then Bernal DÃaz is your man. Do not pass this book by.
Rating:
Summary: On the spot reportage from 16th century conquistador
Review: Several decades ago, as a college sophomore, I was assigned to read Bernal Díaz' work as part of a Latin American history course. The title did not give me much hope. I imagined having to force myself to sit at a desk night after night in order to finish the book. To my great surprise, once I began to read this incredible eye-witness account, I could not put it down. Still, some 38 years later, Bernal Díaz' story, as one of the soldiers who accompanied Cortés, remains forever as one of the best books I have ever read on any subject. Vivid, eye-witness description of the whole story of the Conquest of Mexico in 1519 will rivet you to the pages, if you have even the slightest sense of history or desire to imagine strange events in faroff places. Here is the tale of how the Spanish soldiers, led by Cortés, despite tremendous odds, toppled an ancient civilization, destroying it utterly, and began a new society that would eventually become modern Mexico. Where else are you going to read words like these, describing the Spaniards' first arrival in Tenochtitlan, which would become Mexico City ? "When we saw so many cities and villages built both in the water and on dry land, and this straight, level causeway, we couldn't restrain our admiration. It was like the enchantments told about in the book of Amadis, because of the high towers, temples, and other buildings, all of masonry, which rose from the water. Some of our soldiers asked if what we saw was not a dream." Alliances, intrigues, battles, retributions, strange gods and the clash of utterly different cultures fill this amazing book. If you have any fondness for history, if you have any curiosity about vanished civilizations, if you would like to ponder about Fate with more substance than usual (!), then Bernal Díaz is your man. Do not pass this book by.
Rating:
Summary: A literary treasure
Review: This is an excelent book, very interesting, especially when you read the beautiful selection of words chosen by Bernal Diaz, making it a true literary treasure. This authentic gem was left to us as a legacy of one of the most amazing pages of history. Despite of Bernal's kind language and despite of the false impression many would have of Hernan Cortes and his army, they were nothing but a group of bandits obsessed and full of lust for gold, destroying everything on their path with the excuse of "sharing the scriptures". Somebody had mentioned that the indians were not as humble,peaceful and earth-hugging victims as we've always believed, but for all of those "free-thinkers", remember that history is always written by the winners. Señor Bernal's version does not mention and subtly conceals the genocide afflicted by the spaniards, which does not compare at all to the religiously-justified human sacrifices the indians performed at the time. Anyhow, do yourself a favor, don't wait for the movie and procure this amazing book.
Rating: 
Summary: Very detailed account.
Review: This is an excellent account of the Spanish invasion of the Aztec world. Obviously a lot of bias in favour of the spaniards occurs throughout the book but in general this is a good read of how Cortez and his men achieved what was an almost impossible task.
Rating:
Summary: HISTORY, ADVENTURE, THIS IS AN EPIC STORY!!
Review: This is one of the best books I have ever read, Bernal Diaz provides in great depth the CONQUEST OF MEXICO and the fall of the Mexica(Aztecs). For anyone interested in Mexican History or the history of the Western Hemisphere in general, this is a must. The chapters are short and easy to read, as well as addicting, especially during the final siege of Mexico. This is a great book to read especially if you're from Zapotlanejo, Jalisco or from Norwalk, California. This book is a great stepping stone on the subject and one should also check out Letters from Mexico(letters from Cortes himself) and Broken Spears(the Aztec account of the Conquest). Orale!
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